Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump's Tariffs Could Bump Up Costs For Health Care-Related Items
On Saturday, President Trump ordered import taxes on goods from Canada, China, and Mexico, a move that could raise costs for consumers across the economy, including in health care. (Wilkerson, 2/2)
Whether pacemakers, insulin pumps or artificial hip joints, Canadians may face a spike in health costs if U.S. President Donald Trump imposes a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada, set to take effect Saturday. With the looming tariff, Medtech Canada, a national association representing 120 medical technology companies, warned the cost of health technologies could rise significantly 鈥� in both countries 鈥� if tariffs are implemented. (Dangerfield, 1/31)
When President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs on Chinese goods Saturday, he homed in on a persistent sore spot in the U.S.-China relationship: Beijing鈥檚 role in the global fentanyl trade, which has fueled a deadly opioid crisis in the United States. Announcing the new levies, Trump described the additional 10 percent tariff on all Chinese goods as a way to hold China accountable for its promises to stop 鈥減oisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country.鈥� He accused the ruling Chinese Communist Party of having 鈥渟ubsidized and otherwise incentivized鈥� companies to ship fentanyl and related chemicals to the United States. (Northrop and Chiang, 2/3)
President Trump says illegal street fentanyl is one of the main justifications for sweeping trade tariffs he plans to impose against Canada, China and Mexico on Tuesday. A statement issued by the White House describes the synthetic opioid as fueling a "national emergency" that warranted tough action. Experts say the reality is far more complex. (Mann, 2/2)