China criticizes EU procurement laws and U.S. drone tariffs

China's Ministry of Commerce has expressed strong opposition to recent trade measures implemented by the European Union and the United States, accusing both of practicing protectionism under the guise of national security and industrial policy.

Regarding the European Union, spokesperson He Yadong urged EU authorities to revise discriminatory clauses in the proposed Public Procurement Act. China noted that the act includes ‘Europe first’ provisions and non-market evaluation criteria that could restrict third-country enterprises. Additionally, China has issued a prohibition order against certain EU cross-border investigative practices under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR), specifically citing unreasonable information requests made during investigations into companies like JD.com.

On the issue of the United States, the Ministry criticized the imposition of Section 232 tariffs on drones and components. He Yadong argued that these measures target civilian products used in agriculture and entertainment, thereby disrupting global supply chains. China also rejected a recent White House report regarding ‘transshipment scams,’ labeling the narrative as a unilateralist attempt to suppress Chinese products.

Despite these tensions, the Ministry noted that economic teams from China and the U.S. are maintaining close communication regarding ongoing trade discussions.