China retaliates to EU ban with import restrictions on medical devices

China's concern ministry said connected Sunday it was restricting authorities purchases of aesculapian devices from the European Union that transcend 45 cardinal yuan ($6.3 million) successful value, successful retaliation to Brussels' ain curbs past month.

Tensions betwixt Beijing and Brussels person been rising, with the European Union imposing tariffs connected China-built electrical vehicles and Beijing slapping duties connected imported brandy from the bloc.

The European Union said past period it was barring Chinese companies from participating successful EU nationalist tenders for aesculapian devices worthy 60 cardinal euros ($70 billion) oregon much per twelvemonth aft concluding that EU firms were not fixed just entree successful China.

The measurement announced by the European Commission was the archetypal nether the EU's International Procurement Instrument, which entered into unit successful 2022 and is designed to guarantee reciprocal marketplace access.

China's countermeasures were expected aft its commerce ministry flagged "necessary steps" against the EU determination precocious past month.

"Regrettably, contempt China's goodwill and sincerity, the EU has insisted connected going its ain way, taking restrictive measures and gathering caller protectionist barriers," the commerce ministry said successful a abstracted connection connected Sunday.

"Therefore, China has nary prime but to follow reciprocal restrictive measures."

The EU delegation bureau successful Beijing did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

China volition besides restrict imports of aesculapian devices from different countries that incorporate EU-made components worthy much than 50% of the declaration value, the concern ministry said. The measures travel into unit connected Sunday.

The commerce ministry said products from European companies successful China were not affected.

The world's second- and third-largest economies are owed to clasp a leaders' acme successful China aboriginal successful July.

On Friday, China besides announced duties of up to 34.9% for 5 years on brandy originating successful the European Union, astir of it cognac from France, aft concluding an probe mostly believed to beryllium a effect to Europe's EV tariffs.

Major cognac producers Pernod Ricard, LVMH and Remy Cointreau were spared from the levies, however, provided they merchantability astatine a minimum price, which China has not disclosed.