The Chinese mainland has formally expressed concerns about the European Union's proposed cybersecurity regulations, warning that the draft legislation could destabilize global supply chains and violate international trade rules. The Ministry of Commerce confirmed on Monday that it submitted detailed objections to the European Commission on April 17, 2026, calling for significant revisions to the contentious proposal.
At issue is a clause allowing the EU to designate "countries posing cybersecurity concerns" and ban "high-risk suppliers" from critical sectors including energy, transportation, and information technology. Chinese officials argue the measure introduces arbitrary security assessments that could exclude Chinese firms from €2.3 trillion in EU procurement markets.
"This draft conflates cybersecurity with economic protectionism," a ministry spokesperson stated. "It contravenes WTO principles of non-discrimination and threatens the green and digital transitions Europe itself prioritizes." Analysts note the proposal comes as EU-China trade reaches $856 billion annually, with integrated supply chains in renewable energy equipment and semiconductors.
The submitted comments warn that implementing the rules could trigger Chinese countermeasures under WTO dispute mechanisms. However, Beijing emphasized its preference for dialogue, urging Brussels to "avoid politicizing normal economic activities" and maintain open industrial cooperation.
With the European Parliament expected to debate the Cybersecurity Act revisions in Q3 2026, business groups are monitoring whether Brussels will amend the supplier blacklist criteria. The outcome could reshape tech trade flows between the world's second- and third-largest economies.
