Premier Urges USTR to Modify Tariff Proposal to Safeguard Healthcare Supply Chain

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