MITA Applauds Lawmakers Efforts to Exempt Medical Devices from Tariffs

Representatives Paulsen, Peters lead bipartisan letter to Lighthizer with the support of 40
lawmakers.

Rosslyn, VA, May 31, 2018 --(PR.com)-- The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) - the
leading organization and collective voice of medical imaging equipment, radiopharmaceutical
manufacturers, innovators, and product developers - today applauded Congressmen Erik Paulsen
(MN-03) and Scott Peters (CA-52) for leading a bipartisan letter with the support of 40 lawmakers urging
United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer to exempt almost $3 billion worth of
medical device products from China from Section 301 tariffs.

“This bipartisan initiative to exempt medical devices from proposed tariffs, which is supported by 40
members of Congress, demonstrates Congressional recognition of the enormous economic and health
value of medical devices, including imaging technologies,” said Patrick Hope, executive director of
MITA. “We thank Congressmen Paulsen and Peters for leading this effort and for advocating on behalf of
their constituents and our employees and the patients they serve.”

In their letter to the USTR the lawmakers wrote: “As you know, the U.S. medical technology industry is
an American success story. This U.S. industry has been historically competitive on a global level and is
one of the few with a consistent trade surplus.

“With its growing economy and middle class, rapidly aging population, and increased demand for
medical technology, China will continue to be an attractive market for U.S. manufacturers. With that in
mind, we are concerned that inclusion of medical devices on any final Section 301 tariff list could lead to
retaliation that would jeopardize these opportunities,” the lawmakers continued.

The bipartisan group of lawmakers wrote they are requesting that all medical technology products be
removed from the Section 301 tariff list.

“Not doing so would not only hurt U.S. manufacturing as the majority of imports from China are inputs
to manufacture finished medical technology products right here in America, but also impacts their ability
to compete globally, and potentially increase healthcare costs, which would limit patient access to
life-saving technology,” the lawmakers wrote.

MITA joined with lawmakers in expressing significant concerns about the proposed tariffs on the
importation from China of medical imaging devices and the components used to manufacture medical
imaging devices.

In a May 10 letter to Ambassador Lighthizer, MITA said the tariffs would amount to a “double tax on
manufacturers.” MITA wrote that many products are imported from a manufacturer in China to a
manufacturing facility in the U.S., where they are substantially transformed and then re-exported - often
back to China. Taxing these products on both ends of one company's supply chain could create a

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disincentive to manufacture in the United States.

MITA also said it was encouraged that the Administration is conducting a public comment period to
understand the implications of any tariffs and make adjustments to the preliminary list before any tariffs
are imposed.

The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA), a division of NEMA, is the collective voice of
medical imaging equipment manufacturers, innovators and product developers. It represents companies
whose sales comprise more than 90 percent of the global market for advanced medical imaging
technology. For more information, visit www.medicalimaging.org. Follow MITA on Twitter
@MITAToday.-----

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Contact Information:
Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance
Tracy Cullen
703.841.3282
Contact via Email
https://www.medicalimaging.org/

Online Version of Press Release:

You can read the online version of this press release at: https://www.pr.com/press-release/755399

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