MedTech Europe’s response to the EU–US joint statement

Posted on 04.09.2025

On 21 August 2025, the European Commission published the joint statement on a United States-European Union framework on an agreement on reciprocal, fair and balanced trade, which outlines the key terms of the Political Agreement reached on 27 July 2025. On 28 August 2025, the European Commission further published two proposals to eliminate EU tariffs, paving the way for the implementation of the EU-US Joint Statement.

The European Union commits to eliminate tariffs on all U.S. industrial goods. The U.S. commits to apply the higher of either the US Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rate or a tariff rate of 15%, comprised of the MFN tariff and a reciprocal tariff, on originating goods of the European Union.

Alarmingly, the Joint Statement does not provide tariff relief for medical technologies and their essential inputs, which will be subjected to a 15% tariff rate.

In response, MedTech Europe has published a statement expressing its deep concerns over the imposition of tariffs by the US and the lack of a negotiated EU-US agreement to eliminate tariffs for medical technologies and their essential inputs. These protectionist measures risk disrupting critical supply chains, with negative implications for patient care, healthcare resilience, and for one of Europe’s most critical and innovative sectors.

MedTech Europe keeps calling on both the EU and the US to eliminate tariffs on medical technologies and their essential inputs to protect patients, secure supply chains, and ensure the competitiveness of the medical technology sector.

For more information please contact: Diana Kanecka, Director International Affairs.