AdvaMed Responds to Commerce Department Section 232 National Security Investigation, Seeks Policies to Strengthen U.S. Position as Global Medtech Leader

WASHINGTON—AdvaMed, the medtech association, today submitted formal comments responding to the U.S. Department of Commerce investigation into whether the U.S.’s current level of medtech imports has national security implications. The comments outlined medtech as an American success story and the United States as the global leader in innovating and making the highest quality medtech for the United States and world, an export powerhouse, and much less reliant on medtech imports than sometimes perceived.

“We look forward to working with the Administration to recognize and to reward the unique strength of the U.S. medtech industry and to pursue targeted, America First policies that further bolster our domestic base and export platform,” Scott Whitaker, AdvaMed president and CEO, wrote. “These policies include seeking fair and reciprocal tariff-free trade with our most important allies, aggressively addressing unfair market access barriers in specific countries, and advancing domestic regulatory reforms and procurement incentives to enhance U.S. competitiveness at home and abroad. Appropriately tailored policies can ensure that this critical American industry continues to thrive, innovate, protect, and strengthen the economic and health care systems of our great nation.” 

The extensive comments, submitted by AdvaMed on behalf of its more than 600 member companies, describes the flourishing U.S. medtech industry: Supporting three million well-paying jobs, U.S. medtech manufacturing jobs having grown three times faster than overall U.S. manufacturing jobs; 70 percent of the medtech sold in the United States is made here, as demonstrated by U.S. Census data on U.S. manufacturing output; by far, the United States is the world leader in medtech exports, enjoying trade surpluses with virtually all trade partners, especially those with large economies.

Tax relief and other pro-growth policies enacted under both Trump administrations have contributed to significant medtech investments in the United States, with billions of dollars in new investments announced this year alone.

The comments outline a series of recommended policies to further support U.S. dominance in medtech production, innovation, exports, and the source of jobs and investment in every state. The response also describes the extensive value of U.S.-dominated medtech to patients, doctors, and hospitals, providing safe, effective medtech for every medical condition at costs that are consistently low relative to other health care spending and often deflationary because of industry competition. “The American medtech industry is the backbone of our country’s health care system,” Whitaker said.

Through the Commerce Department investigation and tariff deliberations, AdvaMed urges the Administration to consider how lower tariffs combined with supportive policies will promote more medtech manufacturing and job growth in the United States, which means greater access to lifesaving technologies and lower costs to American hospitals and patients and more investment in the United States.

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