U.S. manufacturers of personal protective equipment are struggling to meet growing demand, hindered by high tariffs on Chinese imports, The New York Times reported April 23.
Here are five things to know:
- After China retaliated with an 84% levy on U.S. imports in response to President Donald Trump’s tariff plan, the few remaining American companies that make protective gear are feeling uneasy.
“I’m pretty freaked out,” said Lloyd Armbrust, chief executive of Armbrust American, a pandemic-era startup that produces N95 masks at a factory in Texas. “On one hand, this is the kind of medicine we need if we really are going to become independent of China. On the other hand, this is not responsible industrial policy.” - Though N95 masks and nitrile gloves were invented in the U.S., China now produces more than 90% of the medical gear worn by U.S. healthcare workers.
- Of more than 100 PPE startups launched during COVID-19, only five currently operate. “We didn’t learn a thing,” Mike Bowen, former executive vice president of Prestige Ameritech — one of the few domestic mask makers during the pandemic — told the Times. He warned Congress about reliance on foreign-made protective gear.
- Though Congress passed a law in 2021 to ensure that federal agencies could prioritize the purchase of domestic medical equipment, experts said the measure contained loopholes and waivers rendering it ineffective.
“Our national security is at risk because we’ve once again put ourselves at the mercy of adversarial, nondemocratic countries,” Eric Axel, executive director of the American Medical Manufacturers Association, told the news outlet. - Despite the industry’s struggles, a small number of U.S. PPE manufacturers continue to operate. SafeSource Direct has been able to stay afloat through a partnership with New Orleans-based Ochsner Health, while Armbrust American relies on support from Target and individual buyers.
