[By Guancha Observer Network, Liu Chenghui] Imposing tariffs on China to encourage the return of manufacturing to the U.S. is one of the excuses Trump used when he indiscriminately wielded the tariff cudgel. However, many American industries have already become addicted to Chinese-made products, and the medical equipment industry is no exception.

In a lengthy article published on April 23 in The New York Times, it was mentioned that the U.S. once held a dominant position in the global market for personal protective equipment. However, with the influx of Chinese medical products, over 90% of the medical equipment used by American healthcare workers is now made in China. Although some American medical device companies have been calling for federal intervention, they are concerned that imposing tariffs on China will pose risks to the supply chain and cannot save the severely affected industry.

The report noted that few domestic American industries have been hit as hard as manufacturers of masks, examination gloves, and other disposable medical equipment by the flood of cheap Chinese imports. During the pandemic, this decline had catastrophic consequences. Due to not being able to obtain Chinese products in time, staff at American hospitals found themselves defenseless against the lethal coronavirus, which quickly overwhelmed emergency rooms and morgues across the country.

On December 12, 2022, during the pandemic, health officials in New York City urged citizens to wear masks. Visual China.

Earlier this month, when Trump announced his tariff plan and China imposed countermeasures, most of the remaining companies in the U.S. producing protective equipment felt uneasy.

"I am very worried," said Lloyd Armbrust, CEO of AMBUST, a company producing N95 masks and other equipment. "On one hand, if we really want to reduce our dependence on China, this is the medicine we need. But on the other hand, this is not responsible industrial policy."

"Even with a 100% tariff, a one-cent Chinese mask is still cheaper than an eight-cent American-made mask," Armbrust said.

The U.S. once dominated the global market for personal protective equipment, with N95 masks and disposable nitrile gloves both being developed in America. However, more than 90% of the medical equipment used by American healthcare workers is now made in China.

In the first year after the outbreak of the pandemic, more than 100 new medical equipment startups emerged in the U.S. Five years later, most American mask companies and other startups no longer exist. As the pandemic receded, the demand for personal protective equipment slowed down, and masks became a symbol of government overreach and loss of freedom for many Americans.

The report noted that the fatal blow seems destined: Made-in-China equipment has returned. Data from the American Medical Manufacturers Association shows that out of 107 companies established during the pandemic, only five are still producing masks and gloves.

On March 6, 2020, KN95 mask production workshop at Xiangtan Branch of Hubei Huqiang Technology Co., Ltd. in Yichang. Visual China.

Eric Axel, executive director of the association, said that keeping high tariffs on Chinese-made protective equipment would give American producers an advantage. "I think this will change people's behavior because people will have to adapt to the reality that they can no longer buy below-market-price products from China."

Although both Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. have vowed to end America's reliance on foreign medical products and support domestic manufacturers that emerged during the pandemic, federal agencies and state governments have once again begun to rely on cheap Chinese imports. Industry experts say that given the expanding measles outbreaks, avian flu threats, and tariff conflicts with China, the U.S. re-relying on imported medical products is particularly concerning.

Other industry executives worry that escalating retaliatory measures between the U.S. and China may lead to supply chain disruptions and shortages of personal protective equipment. Many said that the economic uncertainty caused by Trump's tariff policies will suppress new investments.

"When policies change every four years, and now even every few days, it's difficult to make business decisions," said Scott McGurl, a healthcare industry expert at Grant Thornton, a consulting firm.

Earlier this year, California purchased millions of N95 masks for those affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles, choosing Chinese products.

"This happens again and again," said Mike Bowen, founder of American mask producer WellWell. "The decline of the American personal protective equipment industry in recent years was completely predictable. We didn't learn any lessons."

This article is an exclusive contribution by Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496703818558718503/

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