The Trump administration has opened a probe into imported robotics, industrial machinery and medical equipment, to determine whether to impose new tariffs.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) opened a Section 232 investigation — which is used to address national security concerns — on September 2, but did not publicly disclose the move until September 25. The probe will look into whether higher tariff rates are necessary for products like surgical masks, N95 respirators, syringes, pacemakers, wheelchairs and insulin pumps, as well as programmable mechanical systems, and industrial stamping and press machines.

As part of the probe, the DOC is calling on companies to comment on their projected demand for the affected products, and determine the "feasibility of increasing domestic capacity," and the potential for foreign control or exploitation of related supply chains. Businesses are also being asked to evaluate the impacts of foreign government subsidies and any predatory trade practices that might compromise the U.S. manufacturing sector.

The outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching implications, not only for manufacturers and health care providers, but also for U.S. trade relations at large. In May, the American Hospital Association (AHA) urged the Trump administration to exempt medications and medical supplies from any new tariffs, noting that "a large proportion of medical goods currently come from international sources." 

"Tariffs on these items could impact patient care by jeopardizing the availability of vital medications and essential health care devices," AHA chair Tina Freese Decker said in a May 19 release. "They also could raise costs for hospitals and heighten shortages and supply chain disruptions."