MichBio Joins National Coalition Opposing New Tariffs on Medical Devices
MichBio has joined the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) and 13 other state life sciences organizations in urging the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to exempt medical devices and medical consumables from proposed Section 301 tariffs being considered as part of the Administration's efforts to address forced labor concerns in global supply chains. While MichBio strongly supports efforts to combat forced labor and strengthen domestic manufacturing, the coalition argues that broad tariffs on medical technologies would have significant unintended consequences for patients, manufacturers, and the nation's innovation ecosystem.
In comments submitted to USTR, the coalition notes that the U.S. medical technology industry depends on highly specialized, globally integrated supply chains that have been developed and validated over decades under stringent FDA regulatory requirements. Unlike many other industries, replacing suppliers or relocating production is neither simple nor immediate. Changes often require years of engineering, quality validation, and regulatory approval before manufacturers can safely transition to alternative sources.
The coalition warns that imposing tariffs on critical medical components, devices, and consumables would increase manufacturing costs, reduce resources available for research and development, and ultimately make it more difficult for companies - particularly the many small and mid-sized medtech firms that drive innovation - to bring new technologies to market. Higher production costs could also translate into increased prices for hospitals and healthcare providers, potentially limiting patient access to innovative diagnostics, medical devices, and life-saving therapies.
For Michigan, the issue carries particular significance. The state's medical technology sector includes global manufacturers, emerging startups, contract manufacturers, suppliers, and research institutions that participate in complex international supply chains while supporting thousands of high-skilled jobs. Tariffs that disrupt access to specialized components could slow product development, delay commercialization, and weaken the competitiveness of Michigan companies in global markets.
Rather than broad-based tariffs, the coalition recommends more targeted approaches that both protect national interests and preserve medical innovation. Among its recommendations are maintaining duty-free treatment for devices serving individuals with disabilities, preserving USMCA trade provisions, providing tariff relief for trusted allied trading partners, and allowing sufficient implementation time should new tariffs ultimately be adopted.
MichBio will continue working alongside MDMA and national partners to advocate for trade policies that strengthen domestic manufacturing without compromising the resilient global supply chains that patients, healthcare providers, and medical technology innovators depend upon. As policymakers seek to bolster U.S. competitiveness, ensuring continued access to essential medical technologies and the components required to manufacture them must remain a central consideration.
