AMMA Applauds the Decision by the US Trade Representative to Expand New Section 301 Tariffs and Duties on Medical Supplies and PPE

Today, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) finalized new Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports. These actions reflect growing calls from domestic manufacturers, including public comments from us here at the American Medical Manufacturers Association (AMMA) who have urged them to protect domestic manufacturing from unfair trade practices.

This decision will bolster U.S. manufacturing, particularly in sectors crucial for national security, such as medical supplies and PPE. AMMA members have long been calling for these measures to maintain competitiveness and secure jobs within the U.S. medical manufacturing sector.?

USTR finalized its 4-year review and announced changes to timing and rates for certain tariffs and exclusions in their draft Federal Register notice. USTR has agreed to tariff increases for masks, gloves, and syringes/needles, and has expanded the coverage of the increased duties on masks. A few changes they've announced include:

• Duties on certain textile face masks and respirators will increase to 25% this year. That change will go into effect on September 27 with an additional increase to 50% in 2026. USTR also increased coverage to include disposable face masks.
• USTR will increase duties on medical/surgical gloves to 50% in 2025, with a further increase to 100% in 2026.
• USTR will increase the duties on syringes and needles to 100% on September 27.

In response, Eric Axel, Executive Director of AMMA, said:

"The American Medical Manufacturers Association (AMMA) fought hard to encourage the Administration to expand Section 301 tariffs on medical supplies and PPE on imports from China. We view the USTR’s recent approval of new tariffs as a significant win for domestic manufacturing. We applaud them for listening to our concerns and imposing additional tariffs on unfairly traded medical imports.

These measures will begin leveling the playing field, ensuring that American-made medical supplies and equipment remain competitive and bolstering our domestic production capabilities. This decision supports thousands of jobs and strengthens our supply chain resilience.?

These expanded measures reflect the importance of protecting American innovation and production, which are critical to maintaining our nation’s healthcare security. AMMA stands firmly behind these actions as they demonstrate a commitment to bolstering U.S. manufacturing and supporting American workers."