Today, the European Commission initiated its first investigation under its International Procurement Instrument (IPI), in response to measures and practices in the Chinese procurement market for medical devices which it says "discriminate unfairly against European companies and products."

At a Council on Foreign Relations event last week, EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis discussed a number of China trade issues, including the general EU approach to China trade relations, whether the EU is rethinking MFN, and future prospects for unilateral trade action against China.

At the China-Italy Business and Dialogue Forum in Italy last Friday, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao criticized the European Commission's recent actions against Chinese green products, including electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, and wind turbines, calling them "trade protectionist" and a "double standard."

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao began a visit to Europe last weekend, focusing on the electric vehicle (EV) industry. During recent meetings, he told Chinese auto makers that his government still supports them in protecting their rights and interests, and encouraged more collaboration between the Chinese companies

Last month, the European Commission announced the first ever in-depth investigation under its new Foreign Subsidies Regulation, targeting CRRC Qingdao Sifang Locomotive Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of CRRC Corporation, a Chinese state-owned train manufacturer. In reaction to that investigation, CRRC withdrew its bid for a Bulgarian procurement contract.

At a European Parliament hearing on Thursday, European Commission Executive Vice-President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis offered comments on a number of aspects of EU-China trade relations, including the trade deficit, Chinese industrial policies, the Ukraine war, and economic coercion.

Today, China's Ministry of Commerce published an update on the anti-dumping investigation on European brandy, indicating the companies to be sampled and the categorization of the brandy products under investigation.