China warns EU over Made in Europe
- China’s commerce ministry warned on April 27 it could retaliate against the European Union’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act if Chinese companies are harmed. - Brussels unveiled the law on March 4, tying public aid and procurement in strategic sectors to “Made in EU” or low-carbon requirements. - The proposal still needs Parliament and member-state approval, setting up a new EU-China trade fight. (ec.europa.eu)
China warned on Monday that it could retaliate if the European Union turns its “Made in Europe” industrial push into law. (euronews.com) (france24.com) China’s Ministry of Commerce said it had submitted comments to the European Commission on April 24 and called the draft law discriminatory against foreign investors, especially Chinese companies. (digitimes.com) (euronews.com) The law at issue is the European Commission’s Industrial Accelerator Act, published on March 4 as COM(2026)100. It would steer public procurement and public support toward low-carbon products and goods made in the European Union. (ec.europa.eu 1) (ec.europa.eu 2) The Commission says the plan is meant to expand industrial capacity in strategic sectors and shorten Europe’s dependence on imported clean-tech supply chains. Its own summary says the rules would use targeted “Made in EU” and low-carbon requirements. (ec.europa.eu 1) (ec.europa.eu 2) Beijing says those conditions cross into market discrimination. Chinese officials argued the proposal creates investment barriers and undermines the European Union’s stated commitment to openness and fair competition. (france24.com) (euronews.com) The fight comes after months of harder European language on industrial policy and reciprocity. Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné has framed the strategy as a way to make sure public money supports production, jobs and value creation inside Europe. (ec.europa.eu 1) (ec.europa.eu 2) The proposal is not law yet. It still has to be negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council, which means the final thresholds, sector coverage and reciprocity tests can still change. (ec.europa.eu) (ec.europa.eu) That leaves Brussels trying to write a tougher industrial rulebook while keeping a lid on a broader trade clash with Beijing. China’s warning makes clear the next stage will be fought not only in factories, but in the legislative text. (digitimes.com) (france24.com)
