FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 02, 2007
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ADVAMED STRONGLY SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO EXPAND MARKET ACCESS FOR U.S. PRODUCTS ABROAD
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WASHINGTON, DC – AdvaMed President and CEO Stephen J. Ubl issued the following statement today regarding trade and globalization:
“AdvaMed supports renewal of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) for the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). This authority is essential for the United States to be a credible and effective negotiating partner in international trade negotiations. The shared commitment of the Congress and the President to expand international trade opportunities and to encourage global trade liberalization is commendable.
“We applaud and support:
- continued progress on international trade initiatives, including bilateral, regional and global trade negotiations, such as newly concluded free trade agreements (FTAs) in Latin America, and the Doha Development Agenda in the World Trade Organization (WTO); and,
- new efforts with other trading partners to provide duty-free treatment of U.S. exports of medical device technologies that save and enhance the lives of patients worldwide.
“AdvaMed is hopeful that future bilateral agreements, including the U.S.-Korea FTA and the U.S.-Malaysia FTA, will also include directives to knock down tariff and non-tariff barriers for medical technologies. In that regard, we encourage the President and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to continue to pursue trade liberalization in the medical technology sector with all major trading partners.
“Our members are devoted to the development of new technologies and diagnostics tests that allow patients to lead longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Together, our members manufacture nearly 90 percent of the $86 billion in life-enhancing health care technology products purchased annually in the United States, and nearly 50 percent of the $220 billion in medical technology products purchased globally. Exports in medical devices and diagnostics totaled $25.5 billion in 2005, and imports were $23.7 billion. The medical technology industry directly employs about 350,000 workers in the U.S.
“AdvaMed stands ready to work with Congress and the Administration to monitor and advance multilateral, regional and bilateral trade agreements, particularly with our key trading partners.”
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AdvaMed member companies produce the medical devices, diagnostic products and health information systems that are transforming health care through earlier disease detection, less invasive procedures and more effective treatments. Our members produce nearly 90 percent of the health care technology purchased annually in the United States and more than 50 percent purchased annually around the world. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies.