--- title: American Health Care Will Suffer Under Trump’s Tariffs description: Trump’s tariffs could be devastating for America’s health care system. Consumers will pay the ultimate price, write Robert Glatter and Peter Papadakos. canonical: https://time.com/7275808/trumps-tariff-american-health-care-effects/ author: Robert Glatter article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2025-04-08T19:12:02.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:44:42.368Z article:section: Ideas og:title: American Health Care Will Suffer Under Trump’s Tariffs og:description: Trump’s tariffs could be devastating for America’s health care system. Consumers will pay the ultimate price. og:url: https://time.com/7275808/trumps-tariff-american-health-care-effects/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt55b68e16ca1927cc/6998c5a1d32e930fe2cd6e65/trump-tariffs-health-care-2025.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: trump-tariffs-health-care-2025 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: American Health Care Will Suffer Under Trump’s Tariffs twitter:description: Trump’s tariffs could be devastating for America’s health care system. Consumers will pay the ultimate price. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt55b68e16ca1927cc/6998c5a1d32e930fe2cd6e65/trump-tariffs-health-care-2025.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # American Health Care Will Suffer Under Trump’s Tariffs > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Inside TIME: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Inside TIME is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories. Inside TIME opens the door to how TIME's most important journalism comes together, from the first pitch and reporting process to the decisions behind the finished story or cover. Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs takes readers inside the newsroom, revealing the journalists, ideas and editorial choices behind the stories shaping the global conversation. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=e8d2f66a-db6c-415b-bdda-72eb81a13522&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | TIME, August 2026 | | Written by | Sam Jacobs, Editor-in-Chief | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership Globally minded knowledge seekers. Readers who turn to journalism to understand the world, with meaningful concentrations among educators, students, media professionals, civic institutions and knowledge workers. ### TIME Inside TIME: key statements * Inside TIME is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * Inside TIME is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=e8d2f66a-db6c-415b-bdda-72eb81a13522&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/subscribe?i=e8d2f66a-db6c-415b-bdda-72eb81a13522&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is Inside TIME? Inside TIME is a twice-weekly newsletter written by TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs. It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover. #### How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers? Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who is the editor of TIME? Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions. #### Is Inside TIME free? Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=e8d2f66a-db6c-415b-bdda-72eb81a13522&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1) ## Video: How the World Is Reacting to Trump’s New ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs [Watch (HLS stream): How the World Is Reacting to Trump’s New ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/5wSFUa1x.m3u8) (6:00)  _Published 2025-04-03. President Donald Trump called the punishing tariffs he announced on Wednesday “reciprocal,” claiming that the new levies on imports from pretty much every nation—including some that are longtime allies and others that are literally uninhabited—are in response to foreign tariffs levied against imports from the U.S. “and other forms of cheating.”_ by [Robert Glatter](https://time.com/author/robert-glatter/) and [Peter Papadakos](https://time.com/author/peter-papadakos/) Apr 8, 2025 7:12 PM UTC  U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a copy of a 2025 National Trade Estimate Report as he speaks during a trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a copy of a 2025 National Trade Estimate Report as he speaks during a trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images by [Robert Glatter](https://time.com/author/robert-glatter/) and [Peter Papadakos](https://time.com/author/peter-papadakos/) Apr 8, 2025 7:12 PM UTC Over the last few years, there has been increasing pressure on the U.S. health care system: this includes issues related to [hospital staffing](https://time.com/6291392/american-health-care-staffing-crisis/), as well as [financial and operational challenges](https://www.neohospitals.org/thecenterforhealthaffairs/mediacenter/newsreleases/2024/December/Hospitals-Face-Pressures-that-Challenge-Ability-to-Provide-24-7-Care) that have led to many health care facilities closing and reducing vital services like emergency and obstetric care. On a daily basis, many of the nation’s largest health systems have either announced major deficits or are cutting costs. For instance, one of the nation’s premier health systems, Mass General Brigham (MGB), recently reported a 72-million-dollar [operating loss in fiscal 2024](https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/mass-general-brighams-second-wave-mass-layoffs-begin) despite an intensive focus on cost management. (The response has included layoffs of approximately 1,500 employees or roughly 2% of its workforce.) Other large healthcare systems such as [Vanderbilt](https://hr.vanderbilt.edu/policies/reduction-in-force.php#:~:text=The%20employee%20will%20be%20given,entirety%20of%20the%20Notice%20Period.), [Yale New Haven Health](https://yaledailynews.com/sjp2024/2024/10/08/yale-new-haven-health-a-system-divided/), the [University of Pennsylvania Health System](https://6abc.com/post/penn-medicine-university-pennsylvania-health-system-cut-300-positions-effort-ensure-strong-financial-footing/16090799/), [Orlando Health](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/orlando-health-to-lay-off-900-amid-hospital-closure-including-execs/), and many others have been affected by similar cost issues and have had to lay off people or downsize services. The most fragile level of health delivery encompasses our rural facilities. A February Chartis review reported that 432 rural hospitals are at [risk of closing in 2025.](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/432-rural-hospitals-at-risk-of-closure-breakdown-by-state/) Now, health care is facing yet another obstacle: tariffs. President Trump’s announcement of an [increase in tariffs](https://time.com/7274160/trump-reciprocal-tariffs-questions-answered-explainer/) on imports into the U.S. only stands to hurt our already fragile health care system. Many of the supplies that our patients and hospitals depend upon to safely operate are imported, including basic and necessary supplies such as medicines, gloves, gowns, and IV supplies. Tariffs will not only lead to higher prices for those goods but will astronomically add costs for the patients we care for. **Read more**: [_Trump Doubles Down on Trade War, Threatening China With More Tariffs_](https://time.com/7275566/trump-threatens-more-tariffs-china/) One of the largest costs that impacts health care is medications. A significant portion of [active pharmaceutical ingredients](https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/buyers-guide/active-pharmaceutical-ingredients/) (APIs) and finished medications are manufactured abroad, with a substantial percentage of APIs originating from India and China—countries that are being hit with major increases in tariffs. Of [finished medications](https://merics.org/en/merics-briefs/europes-increasing-reliance-china-critical-drugs-foreign-investment-china-africa) ready for use, a substantial percentage are also [manufactured overseas](https://merics.org/en/merics-briefs/europes-increasing-reliance-china-critical-drugs-foreign-investment-china-africa): India accounts for 48%, China 13%, and Europe another 7%. Even completed medications produced domestically are made with imported APIs with estimates [running over 30%](https://advisory.avalerehealth.com/insights/majority-of-api-in-us-consumed-medicines-is-produced-in-the-us-2020), according to a 2022 study by Avalere Health. The end result is price increases that are not only passed on to Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) but also to patients and their families. Consumers are the ones who suffer in the end, with higher out-of-pocket costs leading to some skipping doses or failure to fill prescriptions altogether leading to adverse outcomes. Many other routine supplies essential to the function of hospitals are manufactured abroad and will be affected by a rise in tariffs. Surgical gloves, for instance—one of the most commonly used products to provide patient care—illustrate our foreign dependence. U.S. medical facilities are completely reliant on foreign suppliers with [less than 1%](https://www.americannitrile.com/american-nitrile-launches-ohio-based-glove-manufacturing-operations-to-meet-ppe-demand/) of gloves being produced domestically. In fact, Malaysia accounts for [60%](https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/11/business/malaysia-top-glove-forced-labor-dst-intl-hnk/index.html) of the world’s nitrile gloves production. Intravenous catheters also represent another essential aspect of patient care and a mainstay of modern medicine that is largely manufactured outside of North America, with China and India being leaders. Surgical masks, which were so important during and after the pandemic, are emblematic of the fragile international supply chain of medical devices that our hospitals depend upon. Masks were one of the major types of durable medical equipment (DME) that were not readily available in the U.S., making it a key commodity as COVID-19 ignited in early 2020\. [Several U.S. companies](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ppe-manufacturing-business-transformations/) did step in to manufacture disposable surgical masks. However, even with that major initiative, they too only could produce a [fraction](https://www.wired.com/story/decades-offshoring-led-mask-shortage-pandemic/) to meet U.S. demand. As hospitals annually spend billions on major equipment and technology—the majority of which is manufactured outside of the U.S.—we must brace for tremendous financial stress on our health care system as a whole. Equipment such as ventilators, anesthesia machines, X-ray equipment, and state-of-the-art CT and MRI scanners are all [either manufactured or contain parts from abroad](https://consonance.tech/blog/medical-device-manufacturing-decisions/). An [estimated increase of 20 to 30 %](https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2024/06/fact-sheet-impact-of-tariffs-on-health-care-equipment.pdf#:~:text=Comprising%20approximately%2010.5%25%20of%20the%20average%20hospital's,semiconductors%20solar%20cells%2C%20syringes%20and%20needles%20will) in the costs of such equipment may deal a major blow to the vast majority of hospitals and clinics in the U.S. but also abroad. Deferring or delaying such expenditures in an effort to save money may adversely impact patient care. This includes the inability to timely and accurately diagnose life-altering or threatening conditions using imaging modalities which are essential in emergency medicine and trauma care. Our leaders need to address this major issue, as it will greatly impact—or crumble—our health system. While it is vital to invest in rebuilding a robust domestic supply chain for pharmaceuticals, focusing on rebuilding the U.S. pharmaceutical industry which was a global leader many decades ago, it also takes time. Yes, we need to reform and refurbish such facilities to enable the U.S. to effectively and efficiently manufacture medicines, reducing our costs and foreign dependence on a global supply chain. But we also must acknowledge that sharing health care resources with other countries still offers the opportunity to source products, APIs, and other DME that are scarce in the U.S., fostering cooperation and collaboration to save lives. Above all, our elected leaders need to face the issue of tariffs on medical supplies and act to lower such increases because our health systems collectively cannot afford it. Our health system is not equipped to absorb the enormity and burden of such increased costs. ## Transcript President Trump's announcement of universal tariffs on the whole world, including the European Union, is a major blow to the world economy. I deeply regret this choice. Let's be clear eyed about the immense consequences the global economy will massively suffer. Uncertainty will spiral and trigger the rise of further protectionism. And today, I'm announcing that the Government of Canada will be responding by matching the US approach, by matching the US approach with 25% tariffs on all vehicles imported from the United States that are not compliant with Kuzma, our North American Free Trade Agreement. And on the non-Canadian content of Kuzma compliant vehicles from the United States as well, our retaliatory tariffs that we've previously announced in response to the US United States's other tariffs will remain in effect. You know, we take these measures reluctantly, and we take them in ways that's intended and will cause maximum impact in the United States and minimum impact here in Canada. President Trump. Reciprocates. Entender. Como Mexico no pone Estados Unidos pues Estados Unidos no pone aranceles a Mexico. President Trump referred to reciprocal tariffs. A reciprocal tariff would be zero, Not 10%. The administration's tariffs have no basis in logic, and they go against the basis of our two nations partnership. This is not the act of a friend. Today's decision will add to uncertainty in the global economy, and it will push up costs for American households. It is the American people who will pay the biggest price for these unjustified tariffs. This is why our government will not be seeking to impose reciprocal tariffs. We will not join a race to the bottom that leads to higher prices and slower growth. Now, clearly, there will be an economic impact from the decisions that the US has taken, both here and globally. But I want to be crystal clear. We are prepared. Indeed, one of the great strengths of this nation is our ability to keep a cool head. Had I said that in my first speech as Prime Minister, and that is how I govern. That is how we have planned, and that is exactly what is required today. Nobody wins in a trade war. That is not in our national interest. We have a fair and balanced trade relationship with the US. Negotiations on an economic prosperity deal, one that strengthens our existing trading relationship. They continue and we will fight for the best deal for Britain. They are bad for the Irish economy. They are bad for the European economy, and they are bad for the United States because what they do is they push up prices, they make things more expensive, and they certainly don't help consumers with the cost of living. That has been Ireland's consistent position. We deeply regret the announcement by the United States president last night. For those reasons, we have built a relationship of prosperity, Jobs and investments based on working together and trading together. I think, though, now that the United States has had its big Bang moment and made this announcement, now it's time to get around the table and try and find a negotiated way forward. But the president in America is completely free to plot its own economic policy under the you know, we respect sovereignty of nation states. And he's you know, it's not a surprise that this is the agenda they've wanted to run with. We disagree with that agenda. We don't think that is good for global trade. We don't think countries do well when there are high tariffs and when there are trade wars. We we much more believe, you know, goods and services should be able to move freely around the world. New Zealand has built itself into a low tariff environment. Our exporters are deeply, deeply competitive. The products and services we sell are in huge demand around the world, and that's why we're opening up as much trade with as many different countries as we possibly can. Solidarité. Aujourd'hui de la part de tous les hommes de la solidarité qui est approuvée par les décisions et ailleurs par le président Trump avec l'application des droits de loin réciproque qui ont des conséquences negative sur la economy American, comme sur les économiques de l'ensemble des membres de l'alliance de l'économie européenne. Cooperation nicht auf confrontation und wir werden unsere Interessen verteidigen Europa wird geschlossen stark und Angemon auf die Entscheidung der USA Reagieren. Another. Vehicle for the Pompano. WTO Kyoto. Kyoto. Shinkoku na. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7275808/trumps-tariff-american-health-care-effects/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7275808/trumps-tariff-american-health-care-effects/"},"headline":"American Health Care Will Suffer Under Trump’s Tariffs","datePublished":"2025-04-08T19:12:02.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:44:42.368Z","description":"Trump’s tariffs could be devastating for America’s health care system. Consumers will pay the ultimate price, write Robert Glatter and Peter Papadakos.","url":"https://time.com/7275808/trumps-tariff-american-health-care-effects/","keywords":["Health Care","freelance"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt55b68e16ca1927cc/6998c5a1d32e930fe2cd6e65/trump-tariffs-health-care-2025.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Robert Glatter","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/robert-glatter/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Peter Papadakos","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/peter-papadakos/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt55b68e16ca1927cc/6998c5a1d32e930fe2cd6e65/trump-tariffs-health-care-2025.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"trump-tariffs-health-care-2025","caption":"President Trump Holds \"Make America Wealthy Again Event\" In White House Rose Garden","creditText":"Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/health-care/","name":"Health Care"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7275808/trumps-tariff-american-health-care-effects/","name":"American Health Care Will Suffer Under Trump’s Tariffs"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"How the World Is Reacting to Trump’s New ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs","description":"President Donald Trump called the punishing tariffs he announced on Wednesday “reciprocal,” claiming that the new levies on imports from pretty much every nation—including some that are longtime allies and others that are literally uninhabited—are in response to foreign tariffs levied against imports from the U.S. “and other forms of cheating.”","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/5wSFUa1x/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2025-04-03T19:44:48.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/5wSFUa1x.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/7275808/trumps-tariff-american-health-care-effects/","duration":"PT6M","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/7275808/trumps-tariff-american-health-care-effects/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```