EU Proposes "EU-Made First" Policy; China Voices Serious Concern

On April 27, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce responded to the European Union's proposed "EU-made first" policy. This policy, part of the Industrial Acceleration Act (IAA), aims to prevent localized production in critical sectors—including electric vehicles, batteries, photovoltaics, and critical raw materials—from being displaced by imported products. The legislation imposes restrictive requirements on foreign investment in these four strategic sectors and introduces exclusive "EU-origin" clauses in public procurement and public support policies. China stated that these measures constitute serious investment barriers and institutionalized discrimination against foreign capital. On April 24, China's Ministry of Commerce submitted comments to the European Commission, stressing that such an approach restricts market access for foreign-invested enterprises, violates the principle of fair competition, and could negatively impact global supply chains and the trade environment.