Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The EU Commission said it had found that European Union suppliers of medical devices are not given fair access to China’s public tenders.
The European Commission said it is considering its next measures to tackle what it described as discrimination against EU medical devices. The EU Commission launched its first-ever probe in April 2024 under its International Procurement Instrument (IPI), which seeks to ensure mutuality in access to public procurement.
What findings were revealed in the commission’s January 2025 report?
The EU Commission Report published on January 14, 2025, figured that China has set in place several different conditions of direct and indirect discrimination against EU medical devices and suppliers, leading to severe and recurrent impairment of their access to this market across the entire territory of China.
The report recapitulates the major findings of the first investigation under the EU’s International Procurement Instrument (IPI). It shows clear proof of China restricting the access of EU medical device producers to its state arrangements in an unjust and discriminatory manner.
What actions might the EU take to address this issue?
European Commission reiterated that it remains determined to engage China in a constructive discussion sought to address and eradicate the discriminatory actions. Further, in the lack of an acceptable resolution, the Commission said it will now carefully consider the possibility of adopting IPI standards. If it discovers that such actions are in the EU interest, it could include a condition on, or exclusion of, Chinese bidders of government agreements in the European Union.
The EU’s procurement framework is based on the following principles:
The European Union public procurement market represents one of the most significant areas of the economy. It absorbs around 14% of the EU’s gross domestic product and has been estimated to spend approximately €2 trillion yearly. The term “market” actually refers to the process through which public authorities purchase goods, services, and works from private enterprises, including local authorities and departments of the central government. The EU has developed a broad legal framework on public procurement aimed at transparency, competition, and non-discrimination. This framework is primarily based on several directives that harmonize procurement rules across member states.
