Following a series of investigations into unfair Chinese foreign subsidies on the internal market, on Wednesday 24 April the European Commission launched an investigation into Chinese public procurement in the medical devices sector. It suspects Beijing of favouring Chinese companies in public procurement contracts in this sector, thereby discriminating against European producers. This is the first action initiated under the International Procurement Instrument (IPI), which came into force in 2022.
For several years now, the EU and the United States have been highlighting problems with access to the Chinese market in the medical devices sector. The situation has already been reported to the Chinese authorities, to no avail.
The Commission has nine months to conclude its investigation and decide on the measures to be taken in response. Possible actions, if discrimination is proven, include adjusting the score of Chinese companies in European procedures for the award of public procurement contracts or even excluding them.
On Wednesday 24 April, China once again accused the EU of protectionism in response to this announcement: “The EU always presents itself as the most open market in the world, but all the outside world can see is that it is gradually moving towards protectionism”, said Chinese diplomatic spokesman Wang Wenbin.
In recent weeks, the EU has opened investigations into Chinese subsidies suspected of distorting competition in the electric train, photovoltaic panel, wind turbine and security scanner sectors.
See the notice opening the enquiry: https://aeur.eu/f/bxt (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)