Sen. Toomey argues for tariff exclusions for manufacturers producing medical equipment

U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Tom Carper (D-DE) sent correspondence last week to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, arguing for the provision of tariff exclusions for American manufacturers producing medical and personal protective equipment for hospitals and healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In our states, and across the country, we are seeing an extreme shortage of critical medical supplies needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including hand sanitizer, nasopharyngeal swabs, facemasks, ventilators, isolation gowns, and more,” Toomey and Carper wrote. “To help address these shortages, many U.S. companies that already make medical supplies have ramped up production, and companies in other industries have voluntarily begun transitioning to manufacturing these products.”

The senators specifically asked the Trump administration to immediately suspend Section 301 tariffs on components and machinery identified by manufacturers as necessary for the production of critical medical supplies.

“Furthermore, we ask that you work with HHS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Commerce, industry, and other relevant experts to develop a list of inputs, substitutes, machinery, and other products that U.S. companies need to meet the current demand for medical supplies, that will be subject to 301 tariff exemptions,” they wrote. “U.S. companies must be able to access the materials needed to manufacture critical medical supplies without the added cost of 301 tariffs for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, and they should not be subjected to the lengthy process of submitting tariff exemption requests for each individual input required to make products essential for addressing the ongoing pandemic.”

PA Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Gene Barr noted that Pennsylvania is seeing a “flattening of the curve” in new COVID-19 cases due to the Wolf administration’s safety guidelines for businesses and individuals, but now is the time to address the economic health and future of the Commonwealth.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust the Commonwealth – and our country as a whole – into uncharted territory as elected officials at the federal, state and local levels work to strike a delicate balance between protecting the public health and preventing a complete economic shutdown,” Barr said. “Now it’s time to turn our focus on ‘Bringing PA Back.’ Senator Pat Toomey has put forth a good, reasonable plan to assist in that recovery. We strongly encourage the Wolf administration, Senator Toomey and the state Legislature to bring together their collective ideas to begin this economic recovery. Working together, Pennsylvania will come through this unprecedented situation stronger than before.”