China pushes EU capitals to scrap “Made in Europe” law or face retaliation

Published connected 29/04/2026 - 19:52 GMT+2•Updated 19:57

China has called connected EU subordinate states to revise the bloc’s projected “Made successful Europe” legislation, according to Suo Peng, commercialized and system curate astatine China’s ngo successful Brussels.

The European Union is presently debating the draft, which was unveiled by the European Commission successful March and aims to enforce stricter conditions connected overseas companies seeking entree to EU nationalist procurement and concern opportunities.

The connection — wide interpreted arsenic targeting Chinese firms — has already drawn a informing from Beijing. Earlier this week, China’s commerce ministry said it would see retaliatory measures if the EU proceeds without important changes.

“Chinese embassies successful EU subordinate states person conveyed China’s comments and suggestions to the governments of their hosting countries,” Peng told journalists successful Brussels.

He added that if the EU “insists connected this punishment and treats China’s enterprises successful a discriminatory manner,” Beijing would beryllium forced to respond with countermeasures.

Public procurement rules and concern limits

The alleged Industrial Accelerator Act would, if adopted by EU governments and the European Parliament, prioritise European-made products successful nationalist procurement successful sectors considered strategic, including automotive, greenish technologies, and energy-intensive industries specified arsenic aluminium and steel.

It would besides spot conditions connected overseas nonstop concern exceeding €100 cardinal successful areas specified arsenic batteries, electrical vehicles, star panels and captious earthy materials.

Companies from countries with much than 40% planetary marketplace stock successful a fixed assemblage could beryllium required to signifier associated ventures with European partners and transportation technology. At slightest fractional of jobs successful specified projects would besides request to spell to EU workers.

China has criticised the measures arsenic discriminatory, with Peng accusing the EU of treble standards connected exertion transportation rules. He pointed to a 2018 associated connection with the United States and Japan opposing forced exertion transfers.

Divisions wrong the EU

EU subordinate states stay divided implicit the proposal. France is pushing for stricter section contented requirements, portion Germany and others are calling for a broader attack that includes practice with like-minded partners.

Some countries person besides warned that the rules could summation costs and bounds entree to innovation.

The connection includes a reciprocity rule successful nationalist procurement, meaning the EU would lone unfastened its marketplace to countries that assistance akin entree to European firms.

China, which does not presently person specified an statement with the EU, says it is unfastened to a bilateral woody connected authorities procurement. Peng urged Brussels to respond “as soon arsenic possible”.

Otherwise, helium warned, the program “will earnestly harm the existent interests of Chinese and European companies.”