China has condemned the European Union’s new import-control mechanism targeting polluting products as discriminatory and unfair, and has pledged to take “necessary measures” in response. The move highlights a growing regulatory clash between trade and sustainability goals: while the EU says it seeks to curb pollution embedded in imports, affected exporters view the rules as protectionist. The dispute could prompt diplomatic friction, potential retaliatory actions or legal challenges and create uncertainty for supply chains and companies navigating diverging environmental standards.