AdvaMed Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Tariffs and Future Trade Policy
Scott Whitaker, president and CEO of Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), issued a statement following last week’s Supreme Court decision on tariffs.
On Feb. 20, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled 6–3 in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not give the president authority to impose tariffs on imported goods. The Court underscored that the Constitution grants Congress, and not the executive branch, the power to “lay and collect” taxes and duties. Without explicit congressional authorization, the president cannot rely on emergency powers to enact sweeping tariffs.
As a result, tariffs imposed under IEEPA are invalid. That includes significant duties previously applied to imports from China, Canada, Mexico, and other countries under emergency declarations. U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped collecting IEEPA-based tariffs on Feb. 24 following the decision.
The ruling does not impact tariffs enacted under other statutes, such as Section 232 (national security) or Section 301 (unfair trade practices), which remain in effect. However, the now-invalidated tariffs generated tens of billions of dollars in revenue, with estimates suggesting more than $175 billion could be implicated, raising the possibility of refund claims, according to reporting by Reuters.
Whitaker said the Court’s decision makes clear that IEEPA cannot be used to impose broad tariffs globally. At the same time, he noted that the administration is expected to pursue alternative legal authorities to advance its goals of reducing trade imbalances and encouraging U.S. manufacturing.
He added that the medtech sector, which is largely U.S.-based and running trade surpluses in many major markets, is eager to work with the administration to address foreign trade barriers, level the playing field, and ensure continued U.S. leadership in medical innovation and patient care.
Medical technology manufacturers often assemble products domestically but depend on imported components. Tariffs on those inputs can increase costs and disrupt supply chains, particularly given lengthy regulatory and product revalidation timelines. The Court’s ruling reduces some of that uncertainty.
“As we move forward,” Whitaker concluded, “America’s medtech companies need certainty and stability to invest, innovate, and deliver timely, cost-effective technologies to patients.”
