China and EU deadlocked on medical devices, still talking on PHEV curbs: source

China and EU deadlocked on medical devices, still talking on PHEV curbs: source Sources on the Chinese side recently described the talks as difficult and expressed frustration over the EU’s inflexibility Beijing and Brussels remain “deadlocked” on trade in medical devices following discussions in Beijing this week, a source said, adding that “intensive consultations” were under way about Brussels’ plan to launch import safeguards against made-in-China plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Vice-Minister of Commerce Ling Ji – China’s deputy international trade representative – held discussions with Ditte Juul Jorgensen, the European Commission’s director general for trade and economic security, on Wednesday and Thursday in preparation for a second round of trade talks, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement issued on Thursday. The European Commission declined to comment, while China’s commerce ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The public procurement of medical devices and imports of Chinese PHEVs have been points of tension between Beijing and Brussels.