MNI BRIEF: China Strongly Opposed EU Trade Barriers

Beijing is opposed to the EU’s imposition of barriers against Chinese enterprises in areas such as public procurement and investment, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday.

"The EU has ignored the China’s goodwill and sincerity given at bilateral dialogues and went its own way, using unilateral tools to build new protectionist barriers," the spokesperson said, answering a reporter’s question regarding the European Commission’s decision to restrict Chinese enterprises from participating in the EU's public procurement of medical devices.

China urges the EU to immediately correct its wrong practices and will take measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, the spokesperson added.  Hopes of reviving the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) with the EU are fading, as Brussels focuses on derisking supply chains and is more likely to pursue targeted cooperation in areas like green industry and artificial intelligence, policy advisors told MNI. (See MNI: China, EU CAI Hopes Fade, Focus Shifts)