Premier Urges USTR to Modify Tariff Proposal to Safeguard Healthcare Supply Chain
June 21, 2024
Premier's comments to USTR on new tariffs emphasize the need to prevent disruptions in the healthcare supply chain and mitigate potential cost increases. Recommendations include clarifying categories, delaying implementation, and enhancing supply chain resiliency.
According to a June 20 press release, Premier submitted comments in response to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)’s solicitation for input on a new wave of tariffs on $18 billion worth of goods manufactured in China.
The goods include medical products and their raw materials, such as syringes, PPE, gloves, semiconductors and steel. In its comments, Premier urged the USTR to modify its proposal to prevent unplanned outcomes that could further splinter the U.S. healthcare supply chain and potentially raise healthcare costs in the short-term.
Premier urged the USTR to:
Clarify that the needles and syringes category is only applicable to plastic needles and syringes
Delay the implementation timeline for medical items and their componentry by at least six months
Gradually increase tariff percentages annually over a five-year period
Broaden the definition of PPE beyond face masks to also include other PPE items
Augment supply chain resiliency efforts through additional mechanisms
About the Author
Janette Wider | Editor-in-Chief
Janette Wider is Editor-in-Chief for Healthcare Purchasing News.
