The European Union suspects “discriminatory” practices against its products amid rising trade tensions with Beijing. On Wednesday, the EU announced it had launched an investigation into government procurement of medical equipment in China.
This is the first time that an investigation has been initiated under the IMPI (International Public Procurement Instrument) regulation of June 2022, which allows the European executive authority to investigate and enter into consultations with suspected obstruction of access to third country markets.
The investigation is expected to last at least nine months. But the notice, published in the Official Journal of the EU, mentions several measures of suspicious favoritism, including a “buy from China” policy, restrictions on the purchase of imported goods and conditions for centralized procurement of medical devices, particularly by hospitals. , “leading to abnormally low prices that cannot be supported by commercial companies.”
Anti-dumping investigation
“According to the Commission’s preliminary assessment, the above-mentioned measures and practices result in serious and recurring de jure and de facto obstacles to the access of Union economic operators, products and services to the public markets for medical devices in (China),” adds Oleg EU.
The Commission invites the RPC to “state its views and provide relevant information regarding the proposed measures and practices” and to “engage in consultations with a view to eliminating or correcting the proposed measures and practices.”
At the end of this investigation, the procedure could allow the EU to punish Chinese companies for participating in European tenders.
Beijing immediately accused the EU of “protectionism.” “The EU has often used its trade instruments and trade support measures, but they only send protectionist signals, target Chinese companies and damage the EU’s image,” said Chinese diplomat spokesman Wang Wenbin. China, as in the past, could respond in kind. As early as January, China launched an anti-dumping investigation into wine spirits such as cognac imported from the European Union (EU).
Source: Le Parisien
I am John Casanova. I am an author at 24 news recorder and mostly cover economy news. I have a great interest in the stock market and have been writing about it for many years. I am also interested in real estate and have written several articles on the subject. I am a very experienced investor and have a lot of knowledge to share with others.
