China announced new restrictions on European Union medical device companies participating in its government procurement, a move Beijing described as a reciprocal response to similar measures adopted by the European Commission.

Last week, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) concluded its 18-month anti-dumping investigation on EU brandy. Effective July 5, final anti-dumping duties of 27.7% to 34.9% will apply, though some companies will be exempted due to price undertakings.

China's Ministry of Commerce denounced the recent measures restricting Chinese companies from participating in EU public procurement of medical devices, calling them "new protectionist barriers."

Last week, the European Commission took a formal step towards imposing restrictions on government procurement of Chinese medical devices, based on an investigation of what it found to be restrictions on procurement practices in the Chinese market.

China's Ministry of Commerce announced yesterday that it will extend its anti-dumping investigation on EU pork for six months.

Last week, European Union trade chief Maros Šefčovič and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met in France and made progress on the EU anti-subsidy case on Chinese EVs, China's anti-dumping case on EU brandy, and China's rare earth export control policies, according to officials

At the Brussels Economic Security Forum today, European Commission officials and other experts offered comments and perspectives on EU-China economic relations and China's participation in the WTO.