The AHA sent a letter June 28 to the U.S. Trade Representative responding to a proposed increase in Section 301 tariffs for goods produced in China, which would include health care products. AHA explained some of the challenges in relying on tariffs to bolster the supply chain, especially for goods that were uniquely designed for safety or that would require significant internal steps to enable a safe change for the current product to one that came from a different manufacturer, such as the additional fit testing that would need to be done with a different manufacturer of N95 respirators. The AHA urged the USTR to only impose tariffs if it demonstrates sufficient manufacturing capacity outside of China to make choices among manufacturers a credible option. USTR was also urged to consider the impact of tariffs on hospitals and other providers already under financial stress, and to limit the number of products affected by tariffs or the amount of tariffs to diminish additional financial strain, and to work with the Food and Drug Administration and health care supply leaders to identify products for which a change in manufacturer would burden hospitals and other providers or would incentivize the use of less safe goods. Such goods would be excluded from the tariff.

Related News Articles

Headline
A JAMA study published Aug. 20 found that nearly 63% of all U.S. drug production facilities from 2019 through 2024 were in counties where a weather disaster…
Headline
B. Braun Medical has voluntarily recalled two lots of Lactated Ringer’s Injection USP 1000 mL and 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection USP 1000 mL IV fluids due to…
Headline
The White House Aug. 13 released an executive order directing the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness…
Headline
The Food and Drug Administration has identified a Class I recall of Draeger SafeStar and TwinStar Filters due to a risk of misleading carbon dioxide readings.…
Headline
The Food and Drug Administration Aug. 8 announced an end to the national shortage of sodium chloride 0.9% IV solutions products. The agency said it continues…
Headline
The Food and Drug Administration Aug. 7 announced a new program to help improve the domestic pharmaceutical supply chain by increasing regulatory…