ADA, other dental groups, ask Trump to exclude medical devices from tariffs
Three major dental organizations have formally expressed their opposition to new and additional tariffs on goods of Chinese, Mexican, and Canadian origin, requesting that the Trump administration exclude medical devices and dental equipment.
The letter, which was authored by the Dental Trade Alliance (DTA) in conjunction with leadership from the American Dental Association (ADA) and National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL), was delivered to the White House on March 5.
It outlines the extensive concerns the DTA, ADA, and NADL have about Trump’s current and proposed tariffs. Many dental products were already subject to existing duties on Chinese products, and the proposed duties (and any reciprocal tariffs) on Mexican and Canadian products will only drive up the cost of dental equipment and supplies further, says the letter.
These actions “will cause economic consequences felt first by [manufacturers], then by dentists, oral surgeons, emergency room physicians, commercial dental laboratories and other oral health professionals as those costs are passed on, and eventually to consumers, who will see cost for oral healthcare increase to offset the duties being assessed on these FDA regulated medical devices.”
Leaders from these associations argue that these policies will cause a ripple effect through the industry, leading to even more difficult economic conditions for practices (many of which are small businesses) and increased health care costs for patients.
Increased costs often cause patients to delay care, which ultimately leads to higher health-care costs for consumers.
In May 2024, the Biden administration levied new duties on Chinese medical products, saying they were intended to “encourage China to eliminate its unfair trade practices regarding technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation.”
The American Hospital Association and Advamed, a medical tech trade group, have also joined the call to exclude medical devices from Trump’s trade war strategy, saying that the policies put patient lives at risk.
Read the full text of the letter here.
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