Patients and healthcare systems must not pay the price of trade tensions

On 21 August 2025, the European Commission and the United States published a joint communique following the political agreement on trade reached at the end of July. Alarmingly, the statement does not provide the much-anticipated tariff relief for medical technologies and their essential inputs. As of 8 August 2025, the US tariffs on imports from the European Union have been increased to 15%, which extends to medical technologies as well when imported from the EU.

MedTech Europe expresses 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 in transatlantic trade. These protectionist trade measures risk disrupting critical supply chains, which in turn will have negative implications for patient care, undermining healthcare resilience, and harming one of Europe’s most critical and innovative sectors.

We call on both sides 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. Medical technologies are indispensable for patient safety and the effective functioning of healthcare systems. Patients cannot be collateral damage in trade tensions.

Download our statement below.