EU's "Industrial Accelerator Act" Legislation Targets China
China's Ministry of Commerce released a press spokesperson statement on the 27th regarding the EU's "Industrial Accelerator Act," expressing "serious concern" over the legislative process. If the EU ignores China's position, Beijing is considering taking countermeasures.
The so-called "Industrial Accelerator Act" is a draft law submitted by the European Commission in early March for discussion by the European Parliament. It aims to boost demand for technology and low-carbon products originating in Europe, rebuild EU manufacturing capabilities, and address unfair competition.
This bill adopts recommendations from a report presented in 2025 by Mario Draghi, who served as President of the European Central Bank for eight years. The proposal advocates introducing targeted provisions related to "EU origin" and "low-carbon" criteria within public procurement markets and rules governing public funding.
If passed, the act would require companies operating in key sectors receiving public financial support to use a certain quantity or proportion of European-origin critical components in the future.
The European Commission stated that the purpose of this legislation is to strengthen Europe’s industrial base amid increasingly unfair global competition and growing EU reliance on third-party suppliers in strategically significant areas. While requiring a certain proportion of European-origin components, the bill emphasizes that the EU remains committed to its open policy. However, it particularly promotes the principle of reciprocity in public tenders—offering equal treatment to countries that open their markets to EU businesses. The EU market will continue to remain open to foreign direct investment, but conditions will be set for investment projects exceeding €100 million in critical sectors, especially when a single third country accounts for more than 40% of global manufacturing.
The bill does not explicitly name China, yet China appears to be the obvious target. According to the press release issued by China’s Ministry of Commerce on the 27th, the restrictive requirements imposed on foreign investment in four emerging strategic industries—batteries, electric vehicles, photovoltaics, and critical raw materials—as well as clauses concerning "EU origin," constitute investment barriers and institutional discrimination.
According to this bulletin, China’s Ministry of Commerce had already submitted its comments to the EU on April 24. Should the EU disregard China’s concerns, Beijing will take countermeasures.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863658758680586/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author