Beijing slammed on Monday a European Union plan aimed at bolstering the bloc's industries against fierce competition from China, vowing countermeasures if it is enacted.

The EU unveiled in March new "Made in Europe" rules for companies trying to access public funds in strategic sectors including cars, green tech and steel, obliging them to meet minimum thresholds for EU-made parts.

The proposal, held up for months by wrangling over the measures, is a key part of an EU drive to regain its competitive edge, reduce its industrial decline and stave off hundreds of thousands of job losses.

In response, the Commerce Ministry said the EU's Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) poses serious investment barriers and constitutes institutional discrimination.

A ministry spokesperson said the Act imposes multiple restrictive requirements on foreign investment in four strategic emerging industries — batteries, electric vehicles, photovoltaics and critical raw materials — and includes exclusionary EU origin clauses in public procurement and public support policies.

The ministry has formally submitted comments to the European Commission, expressing China's position and serious concerns over the legislation.

In the comments, China argued that the legislation is suspected of violating fundamental principles including most-favoured-nation treatment and national treatment.

It poses discrimination against Chinese investors, and will slow the EU's green transition and undermine fair competition in the EU market.

China urged the EU to remove discriminatory requirements against foreign investors, local content requirements, mandatory intellectual property and technology transfer requirements, and public procurement restrictions from the legislation.

The spokesperson said China would closely monitor the legislative process and is willing to engage in dialogue with the EU.

However, if the EU disregards China's comments and pushes ahead with enacting the legislation, causing damage to Chinese companies' interests, China would take countermeasures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, the spokesperson said.

The IAA implicitly targets Chinese makers of batteries and electric vehicles by requiring foreign firms to partner with European firms and pass on technological know-how when setting up shop in the bloc. (AFP/Xinhua)



Edited by Tony Sabine