Saudi Shura Council Demands Development of Supervisory Tools to Monitor Commodity Prices

The Shura Council called for conducting a study to compare the prices of basic food items in the local market. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Shura Council called for conducting a study to compare the prices of basic food items in the local market. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Shura Council Demands Development of Supervisory Tools to Monitor Commodity Prices

The Shura Council called for conducting a study to compare the prices of basic food items in the local market. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Shura Council called for conducting a study to compare the prices of basic food items in the local market. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Shura Council has called on the Ministry of Commerce to cooperate with the relevant authorities, in order to develop the supervisory and procedural tools for monitoring commodity prices.

The Council called for conducting a study to compare the prices of basic food items in the local market and to develop procedural and technical mechanisms to include the “non-delivery of products” within the commercial violations.

In this regard, it underlined the necessity to develop the consumer protection sector, in a way that enables it to perform its supervisory role and preserve consumers’ rights.

During its 42nd regular session on Monday to study the annual report of the Ministry of Commerce, the Shura Council underlined the importance of coordinating with the competent authorities to find solutions for financial compensation in jobs that cannot be filled by national cadres in small and medium enterprises, as well as reviewing the Saudi regions’ competitive advantages in the business sector to adopt the appropriate mechanisms for their development.

The Council also discussed tightening control over the maintenance of roads, bridges, and tunnels, as well as ensuring quality and speed in the design and implementation of relevant projects, while accelerating the shift towards a digital system in the entire sector.

The Council has also called on the Saudi Space Authority to activate the memoranda of understanding with the Ministry of Education and a number of Saudi universities to expand the development of scientific specializations that serve the sector, and to study the launching of internal scholarships with possible employment to develop human capital.

The Council urged the concerned bodies to benefit from the experiences and infrastructure available in some relevant government agencies to integrate and unify efforts and achieve the strategic goals of the space sector in the Kingdom.



China Retaliates to EU Ban with Import Restrictions on Medical Devices

People walk along Qianmen promenade in Beijing on July 5, 2025. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP)
People walk along Qianmen promenade in Beijing on July 5, 2025. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP)
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China Retaliates to EU Ban with Import Restrictions on Medical Devices

People walk along Qianmen promenade in Beijing on July 5, 2025. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP)
People walk along Qianmen promenade in Beijing on July 5, 2025. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP)

China's finance ministry said on Sunday it was restricting government purchases of medical devices from the European Union that exceed 45 million yuan ($6.3 million) in value, in retaliation to Brussels' own curbs last month.

Tensions between Beijing and Brussels have been rising, with the European Union imposing tariffs on China-built electric vehicles and Beijing slapping duties on imported brandy from the bloc.

The European Union said last month it was barring Chinese companies from participating in EU public tenders for medical devices worth 60 billion euros ($70 billion) or more per year after concluding that EU firms were not given fair access in China.

The measure announced by the European Commission was the first under the EU's International Procurement Instrument, which entered into force in 2022 and is designed to ensure reciprocal market access.

China's countermeasures were expected after its commerce ministry flagged "necessary steps" against the EU move late last month.

"Regrettably, despite China's goodwill and sincerity, the EU has insisted on going its own way, taking restrictive measures and building new protectionist barriers," Reuters quoted the commerce ministry as saying in a separate statement on Sunday.

"Therefore, China has no choice but to adopt reciprocal restrictive measures."
The EU delegation office in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China will also restrict imports of medical devices from other countries that contain EU-made components worth more than 50% of the contract value, the finance ministry said. The measures come into force on Sunday.

The commerce ministry said products from European companies in China were not affected.

The world's second- and third-largest economies are due to hold a leaders' summit in China later in July.