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.

China has barred European medical device companies from government procurement deals exceeding 45 million yuan ($6.28 million), escalating its trade row with the European Union.

China has barred European medical device companies from selling to its government in response to EU trade restrictions.