What happened in China On 6 March 2026, China's commerce ministry expressed 'grave concern' over the EU's proposed Industrial Accelerator Act and officially criticised the broader 'Made in Europe' plan as protectionist. Beijing simultaneously voiced opposition to EU proposals restricting foreign investment in strategic sectors. The timing was deliberate: China responded within days of Brussels publishing its proposals, signalling that it intends to contest the policy framing, not just the specifics. ## How it works / the detail The Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), proposed around 4 March 2026, introduces foreign direct investment controls on deals exceeding €100 million in four designated strategic sectors: batteries, electric vehicles, solar PV technologies, and critical raw materials. Two jurisdictional triggers apply: the foreign investor holds no more than 49% of shares, voting rights, or control in a Union company or asset; and a 40% global capacity threshold. Alongside the FDI controls, the IAA…