Overview

• China’s Finance Ministry announced that from July 6, European medical device firms will be excluded from government procurement projects with budgets above 45 million yuan.
• Companies that produce medical devices locally in China remain eligible to bid, safeguarding operations of major suppliers such as Siemens Healthineers and Philips.
• Imports of devices containing more than 50 percent EU-made components are also barred under the new reciprocal measures.
• The move directly counters the EU’s June ban on Chinese firms under its International Procurement Instrument, which covers about €60 billion in annual tenders.
• This sector-specific escalation joins EV tariffs and duties on EU brandy, increasing tensions ahead of the EU–China leaders’ summit later this month.