Medical Equipment Distributors NAICS 423450

Feb 22, 2026 - Trump Administration's Global Tariffs Struck Down By US Supreme Court

• The US Supreme Court ruled in late February 2026 that President Trump exceeded his authority when imposing tariffs using a law reserved for a national emergency. The decision only invalidates tariffs implemented using a 1977 law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). IEEPA tariffs represent about half of the import taxes that the government is collecting each month, according to National Public Radio. Medical equipment distributors are likely to benefit if the cost of goods imported from countries that were hit with tariffs decreases. The Trump administration can use other laws to impose duties on goods from other countries, however, and President Trump issued an executive order shortly after the Supreme Court ruling that implements a new tariff under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. Section 122 allows the president to institute a "temporary import surcharge" of up to 15% if he finds there are "large and serious United States balance of-payments deficits" or to "prevent an imminent and significant depreciation of the [US] dollar in foreign exchange markets." The tariffs can last for up to 150 days, after which Congress may have to take action to extend them, according to NBC News, and the law is also not clear on whether the administration could restart the tariffs immediately after the 150 days with another executive order. The new tariff will result in a major decrease to tariffs applied to most key trading partners, according to NBC News. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said, however that the administration would also open Section 301 investigations on "most major trading partners" on an "accelerated timeframe." The investigations could allow the administration to impose tariffs under that section of the 1974 law if it finds that "the rights of the US are being denied under any trade agreement," or whether any trade agreement is "unjustifiable and burdens or restricts United States commerce." Other approaches to tariffs also remain available: The Trump administration has already used Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act to impose tariffs on goods determined to be a national security threat. Section 232 has been applied it to goods ranging from aluminum to bathroom vanities, according to Business Insider.
• Many existing medical devices don't meet the FDA's current cybersecurity standards, according to Today's Medical Developments. About 53% of connected medical devices tested by healthcare cybersecurity company Cynerio had known critical vulnerabilities, and approximately one-third of healthcare IoT devices have an identified critical risk, potentially affecting the technical operation and functions of medical devices. Many of the devices weren’t designed to support updated encryption standards and modern security measures long-term so there’s no easy fix. For example, a device that was cleared 20 years ago using encryption that was state of the art at the time will most likely be considered insecure now, but the hardware on which that device is based likely doesn’t support modern encryption.

• A significant proportion of essential medical goods come from international sources despite efforts to bolster the domestic supply chain, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA). Nearly 70% of medical devices marketed in the US are manufactured exclusively overseas. In 2024 alone, the US imported over $75 billion in medical devices and supplies, according to an AHA analysis of Census Bureau data. These imports include many low margin, high-use essentials in hospital settings — such as syringes, needles, blood pressure cuffs, and IV saline bags. Hospitals also rely on imports for advanced surgical tools and other critical technologies.
• Medical equipment distributor industry employment decreased slightly and average wages for nonsupervisory employees increased moderately during the first 11 months of 2025, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Professional and commercial equipment distributor sales are forecast to grow at a 3.99% compounded annual rate from 2025 to 2029, slower than the growth of the overall economy, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund.