Beijing, June 3 -- The Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday that China strongly opposes the EU's protectionist action to restrict Chinese medical device companies from participating in major EU public procurement tenders.

The statement was issued in response to EU member states' decision to exclude Chinese companies from participating in public procurement tenders in the medical device sector for contracts exceeding 5 million euros (approximately 5.72 million U.S. dollars) under the bloc's International Procurement Instrument.

The plan, reportedly approved on Monday, would prohibit Chinese firms from bidding on such contracts for a five-year period.

The EU's decision and discriminatory measures harm the interests of Chinese enterprises...