Determining America ’s “Dependence” on China for Essential Medical Goods

Scott LincicomeThe unfortunate onset of COVID-19 has caused many politicians and pundits to proclaim that the United States is distressinglydependent on China for essential medical goods, and to ask whether this “dependence” demands new government programs—in particular, protectionism, subsidies and “Buy American” procurement mandates—to fix the alleged problem.A  little‐​noticedreport from United States International Trade Commission (ITC) begins to provide the answer to that question,  though probably not the answer those same politicians and pundits were expecting.The June 2020 ITC report on“tariff and trade information for known products related to the response to COVID-19” substantially expands and updates an April report on the same issues.It now covers 203 medical products at the highest level of detail provided in U.S. customs data (the 10 ‐​digit level of the Harmonized Tariff System of the United States (“HTSUS”)) in six broad categories: (1) COVID-19 test kits/​testing instruments; (2) Disinfectants and sterilization products; (3) Medical imaging, diagnostic, oxygen therapy, pulse oximeters, and other equipment; (4) Medic ines (pharmaceuticals); (5) Non‐​PPE medical consumables and hospital supplies; (6) Personal protective equipment (PPE); and (7) Other.The ITC report is useful in several respects.For one thing, it documents the many tariffs that the United States now imposes on these essential imports, thusneedlessly reducing s...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs