Philips Engages with U.S. Authorities Amid Investigations into Medical Technology Imports
September 25, 2025 — Reuters
Dutch healthcare technology giant Philips has revealed it is in active discussions with policymakers in Washington following the initiation of U.S. government investigations into imports of certain medical technology products. The company indicated that while it is closely monitoring the situation, it does not anticipate an immediate impact resulting from the probes.
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced on Wednesday that it had launched new national security investigations targeting the import of personal protective equipment (PPE), medical devices, robotics, and industrial machinery. These inquiries, known as Section 232 investigations, were formally opened on September 2 but had not been publicly disclosed until recently.
Section 232 investigations examine whether imports pose a threat to national security and can lead to the imposition of increased tariffs or other trade restrictions. If the investigations find cause, higher import tariffs could be applied to a broad range of medical and industrial products. This may include items such as face masks, syringes, infusion pumps, robotic medical devices, and industrial machines like programmable mechanical systems and stamping presses.
In a statement to Reuters, Philips emphasized the preliminary nature of the probes, stating, “At this stage, details are limited, and a range of potential outcomes remain under discussion.” Despite this uncertainty, the company’s shares fell sharply by nearly 3% shortly after the announcement at 0845 GMT.
The ripple effect was felt across the European medical technology sector, with stocks of Philips’ competitors also declining. Shares of Siemens Healthineers, Coloplast, Sonova, Demant, GN Store Nord, and Smith+Nephew experienced drops ranging from 1% to 4%.
The U.S. government’s move to investigate imports under national security grounds reflects increasing scrutiny over supply chains for critical healthcare and industrial technologies. The outcome of these investigations could significantly reshape trade dynamics and costing structures in these sectors.
Philips’ engagement with U.S. officials underscores the importance of dialogue between multinational corporations and regulatory bodies, particularly amid geopolitical and economic uncertainties affecting global supply chains.
Reporting by Alessandro Parodi; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Joe Bavier
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