The European Union has launched an investigation into Chinese public procurement of medical devices, the EU's official journal said Wednesday, in a move that risks raising further tensions with Beijing.
The EU also has concerns that China may have restrictions on imports as well as imposing conditions"leading to abnormally low bids that cannot be sustained by profit-oriented companies", the notice said. It is the first probe under the EU's International Procurement Instrument which seeks to promote reciprocity in access to international public procurement markets.If the investigation finds that there is unfair behaviour, the EU can limit Chinese companies' access to the public procurement market in the 27-country bloc.The journal said the investigation would be concluded within nine months of its start, although the European Commission can extend this for an extra five months.