China has responded to European Union trade restrictions on its medical device companies with its own selective measures, in a move that underscores growing friction but stops short of a broad escalation. The tit-for-tat step comes just ahead of a crucial EU-China summit, clouding prospects for a thaw in relations already strained by disputes over electric vehicles, rare earths, and Beijing’s closeness to Moscow.

On Sunday, Beijing announced that it would bar European medical device manufacturers from participating in Chinese government procurement tenders for specific categories of equipment. However, in a significant caveat, products made inside China — even by European multinationals — would continue to be eligible for state contracts.

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) is reportedly in talks with Russian energy companies Rosneft, Gazprom, and Novatek regarding potential cooperation in the development of oil and gas fields and hydrocarbon trade. These discussions come as Russia seeks to…

The European Union is ramping up efforts to finalize a long-delayed trade deal with Latin America’s Mercosur bloc, viewing it as a critical opportunity to diversify trade ties in the wake of President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs. European Commission officials said on Friday that the EU would be “investing a lot of time and energy” with member states to complete the agreement, describing it as a “massive opportunity” amid mounting global trade uncertainty.

The renewed push follows Trump’s announcement of a far-reaching new tariff regime on imports from both adversaries and allies, including the EU. Although EU officials said the timing of their initiative was not directly linked to the U.S. action, the trade disruptions appear to be adding urgency to Europe’s search for alternative export markets.