The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) and the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey have asked the Trump administration to exempt the medical device industry from tariffs on components sourced internationally. These components are used by New Jersey manufacturers to produce medical equipment.
In a letter sent on October 17 to the U.S. Department of Commerce, NJBIA stated its support for the administration’s goal of maintaining a strong domestic manufacturing sector. However, the organization cautioned that broad tariffs and restrictions could have negative effects.
“The United States must remain capable of producing critical medical equipment, PPE, and consumables within its borders,” said Christopher Emigholz, NJBIA Chief Government Affairs Officer. “However, this goal can only be achieved through balanced policies that strengthen domestic production while preserving access to foreign components that make that production possible. Overly broad tariffs or restrictions risk creating the opposite effect—raising costs, discouraging investment, and weakening supply chains.”
Emigholz highlighted that New Jersey has more than 400 medical technology and device companies and is home to 14 of the world’s top 20 biopharmaceutical firms. He added, “These companies design, test, and manufacture everything from diagnostic instruments and orthopedic devices to advanced wound care products and PPE. With the right federal support and a predictable, globally integrated policy framework, they can continue to anchor America’s national preparedness and economic security.”
The HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, which represents the state’s research-based medical device, technology, and biopharmaceutical companies, also submitted a letter to the Commerce Department with a similar request.
“Since these medical device manufacturing sites take years to assemble and integrate while ensuring the highest standards of patient safety, changing them would also take years and require FDA approvals to prevent jeopardizing the safety or efficacy of American patients,” wrote Chrissy Buteas, President & CEO of the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey.
“Unexpected delays during this process could unintentionally threaten access to critical, life-saving medical devices and technologies needed by patients,” she said. “Besides the time and risks to patients when relocating manufacturing sites, changes to U.S. tariff policies could unintentionally disrupt the fragile balance of supply and distribution chains, partnerships, collaborations, and logistical infrastructures that support these medical device manufacturing facilities and their capabilities.
“This would hinder America’s ability to deliver these treatments to patients and would increase the costs of medical devices – higher tariffs would directly raise product prices for hospitals, clinics, and patients,” Buteas said.
