China’s ‘buy Chinese’ targets for state firms against US trade deal, WTO: US sources
- Document 551 is reported to have been issued on May 14 by the Chinese Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
- Sent to Chinese hospitals, companies and other state-owned buyers, the document sets local content requirements of 25 to 100 per cent for 315 items
China’s government quietly issued new procurement guidelines in May that require up to 100% local content on hundreds of items including X-ray machines and magnetic resonance imaging equipment, erecting fresh barriers for foreign suppliers, three US-based sources told Reuters.
Document 551 was issued on May 14 by the Chinese Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, with the title, “Auditing guidelines for government procurement of imported products,” said one former US government official, who obtained a copy of the previously unreported 70-page catalogue and read portions to Reuters, but requested anonymity.
The former official said that when China joined the World Trade Organization, it agreed not to issue such internal documents.
They need to reduce barriers, not create new ones
“They need to reduce barriers, not create new ones,” the official said.