EU sharpens procurement rules on Chinese medical devices

Procurement leaders should take note: the EU has drawn a firm line on reciprocity. Chinese firms are now barred from bidding on EU public contracts for medical devices above €5 million, roughly 60% of the total spend, after a damning report found systemic discrimination against EU suppliers in China.

The restrictions, enforced under the EU’s new International Procurement Instrument, target the imbalance driven by China’s favouritism for local suppliers and aggressive price-capping tactics. While Chinese medical device exports to the EU have more than doubled since 2015, EU companies still face major roadblocks entering China’s tightly controlled procurement system.

For businesses operating in global medtech supply chains, this marks a significant shift. The message is clear: market access must be mutual. The EU is flexing its regulatory muscle not just to defend fair trade, but to pressure structural change.

Read the full article for what this means for your procurement strategy.