A Fanuc robotic arm strikes bins of merchandise throughout a media tour of the Amazon.com Inc. DAB2 achievement heart in Daytona Seaside, Florida, US, on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. The DAB2 achievement heart is Amazon’s seventh robotics achievement heart in Florida. Photographer: Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures
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The Trump administration has launched nationwide safety investigations into imports of robotics, industrial equipment and medical gadgets, a transfer that might pave the way in which for recent tariffs and lift prices for shoppers, hospitals and producers.
The Division of Commerce mentioned Wednesday that the probes, opened Sept. 2 below the “Part 232” of the Commerce Enlargement Act, will assess whether or not such imports threaten U.S. nationwide safety, based on Federal Register filings.
The most recent probes develop the checklist of things that might be uncovered to larger tariffs to incorporate private protecting tools reminiscent of surgical masks, N95 respirators, gloves and different medical consumables, together with syringes and needles.
In addition they prolong to imported medical tools reminiscent of wheelchairs, hospital beds and diagnostic and remedy gadgets like pacemakers, insulin pumps and coronary heart valves.
“Prescription drugs, reminiscent of prescribed drugs, over-the-counter medicine, biologics, and specialty medicine, won’t be lined below this investigation as these imports are being examined in a separate Part 232 investigation,” the Commerce Division mentioned.
The probes might be used as justification for recent sectoral tariffs aimed toward boosting home manufacturing of products deemed crucial to nationwide safety.
AdvaMed, the commerce group that represents medical know-how and machine makers, pressured in a press release Thursday that 70% of medical merchandise in U.S. hospitals are already “made in America throughout 1000’s of producing services in all 50 states.”
The group mentioned it might proceed to work with the Trump administration, including, “We consider this course of will reinforce the truth that U.S. medtech manufacturing is powerful and decrease tariffs will gas extra manufacturing and job progress within the U.S., which implies better entry to lifesaving applied sciences and decrease prices to American hospitals and sufferers.”
The Division of Commerce is looking for feedback from corporations on their projected demand for these merchandise and whether or not home manufacturing can meet native demand and the function of international provide chains.
Corporations are additionally invited to stipulate the influence of international subsidies and what the administration described as “predatory commerce practices.”
The Trump administration has beforehand invoked Part 232 to impose levies on automobiles and parts, copper, steel and aluminum.
Investigations into imports of pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and chip components reminiscent of silicon wafers, chipmaking tools and associated downstream merchandise are additionally ongoing, reflecting Washington’s considerations over reliance on abroad provide chains.
Any new duties ensuing from the sector-specific probes could be stacked on prime of U.S. President Doanld Trump’s country-specific tariffs, although the European Union and Japan have reached agreements that might protect them from further levies.
The U.S. relies upon closely on Mexico and China for equipment, with imports from the 2 international locations accounting for greater than 18% and 17% of complete U.S. equipment purchases in 2023, according to data from the U.S. International Trade Commission.
The auto trade might be among the many hardest hit by the most recent potential tariffs, because it accounted for the most important demand for industrial robots — 13,747 installations final yr, according to the International Federation of Robotics. Most of these robots had been imported, with few producers producing within the U.S., the group mentioned.
Culver Metropolis, CA – September 23: Element of vials and syringe containing a COVID-19 vaccination by Pfizer at Kaiser Permanente Venice Medical Workplace Constructing in Culver Metropolis Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. Particulars of vials, syringes in addition to vaccinations.
Allen J. Schaben | Los Angeles Occasions | Getty Pictures
The potential levies on medical gadgets and protecting gear may improve prices for hospitals and sufferers, lowering entry to crucial tools and care, experts have warned.
In April, Scott Whitaker, CEO of AdvaMed, warned of the danger of upper prices.
“MedTech provide chain leaders are already reporting provide chain considerations, and we can’t afford to drive up the price of well being look after sufferers, or on the well being care system,” he mentioned on the time. “The truth is, any elevated prices will likely be largely borne by taxpayer-funded well being packages like Medicare, Medicaid and the [Veterans Health Administration].”
Hospital commerce teams have additionally been sounding the alarm this yr, warning that larger tariffs may harm the standard of care.
Rick Pollack, the CEO of the American Hospital Affiliation, mentioned in April that “disruptions within the availability of those crucial gadgets — lots of that are sourced internationally — have the potential to disrupt affected person care.”
Correction: This text has been up to date to incorporate AdvaMed’s newest assertion and make clear the timing of CEO Scott Whitaker’s feedback.
