AdvaMed statement on tariff announcement

AdvaMed, the Medtech Association, released the following statement from President and CEO Scott Whitaker:

“Our country is the birthplace of the medical device and technology industry and leads the world in innovation and production because U.S. policies promote innovation. We support any and every policy that allows us to maintain our position of global primacy in every aspect of medical innovation imaginable. We also fully support the President’s goal of moving as much manufacturing into the United States as possible.

“However, we are disappointed in the news of the Administration’s intent to levy broad tariffs that will negatively impact American medical technology and innovation. The medtech industry is an American success story made up of remarkable American companies that are saving, improving, and extending lives. If implemented as proposed, broad-based tariffs of this nature would act much as an excise tax. It will have a negative impact on innovation, cost jobs, and increase overall costs to the health care system. Historically, industries with a meaningful humanitarian mission have been exempted from broad tariffs, and as a result we have seen no to low tariffs on medtech from all key trading partners.

“While disappointed in this initial announcement, we look forward to continuing our conversations with the White House to help them understand the important role the medtech industry plays in our health care ecosystem, the value it provides to patients, and the importance of the industry to continued U.S. economic growth. The medtech industry should be exempted from these tariffs.”