Trump tariff threat looms over robotics and medical devices
A Fanuc Robotic Branch carries the product box during the media tour of the DAB2 fulfillment center in the United States on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 on Tuesday, Amazon.com Inc., Florida, Florida, Daytona Beach. Photographer: Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Bloomberg Getty Images
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Trump has launched national security investigations on imports of robotics, industrial machines and medical devices, which can pave the way for fresh tariffs and increase costs for consumers, hospitals and manufacturers.
The Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday that Probes opened September. 2 In accordance with the “Chapter 232” of the Trade Expansion Law, it will evaluate whether this imports threaten US national security. Federal registration files.
The latest probes, surgical masks, N95 respiratory devices, gloves and syringes, needles and other medical consumables, including other medical consumables, expand the list of elements that can be exposed to higher tariffs.
They also extend to imported medical equipment such as diagnostic and treatment devices such as wheelchairs, hospital beds and pacemakers, insulin pumps and heart valves.
Proses can be used as a justification for new sectoral tariffs aimed at increasing domestic production of goods, which are considered critical for national security.
The department is looking for comments from companies about whether local demands and local demands and foreign supply chains will meet the role of foreign supply chains.
Companies are also invited to summarize the impact of foreign subsidies and that management defines them as “predator practices”.
The Trump administration has previously called Chapter 232. Impose taxes on cars and parts– copper, steel and aluminum.
Investigation pharmaceutical importSilicone wafers, semiconductors and chip components such as fragmented equipment and relevant downstream products continue, and reflect Washington’s concerns about relying on overseas supply chains.
Although the European Union and Japan have reached agreements that can protect them from extra taxes, new tasks arising from sector -specific probes will be stacked on US President Doanld Trump’s country -specific tariffs.
In 2023, the USA is largely connected to Mexico and China with imports from two countries, which make up more than 18% and 17% of total US machine purchases. According to the US International Trade Commission.
The automobile industry may be among the most challenging effects of the latest potential tariffs because it explains the biggest demand for industrial robots – 13,747 installation last year. According to the International Robot Federation. The group said that most of these robots were imported and very few producers were produced in the USA.
Experts can reduce access to critical equipment and care by increasing costs for hospitals and patients on medical devices and protective gear.
Culver City, CA – September 23: 23 September 2025 Tuesday, Pfizer by Pfizer in Culver City on Tuesday, Covid -19 vaccination details of bottles and syringes. Bottles, syringes, as well as details of the time.
Allen J. Schaben | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
“Medtech supply chain leaders are already reporting their supply chain concerns and we cannot increase the health service cost for patients or on the health system,” said Scott Whitaker, CEO of the Trade Group representing medical technology and device manufacturers. He said. “The truth is that increasing costs are largely medicare, medicaid and [Veterans Health Administration]. “
Hospital trade groups also alarm this year and said that higher tariffs can damage the maintenance quality.
American Hospital Association CEO CEO Rick Pollack said in April, “the interruptions of these critical devices, mostly from international origin, have the potential to disrupt patient care.”
– Bertha Coombs from CNBC contributed to this report.
