America’s medical supply chain is more vulnerable today than it was during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite warnings and bipartisan concern, reliance on China for essential medical equipment—especially nitrile gloves—has grown. Industry leaders and policymakers are sounding the alarm, urging immediate action to reshore medical manufacturing and protect national security.
Scott Maier, CEO of Blue Star NBR, a domestic nitrile glove producer, warned that U.S. dependence on Chinese medical imports has “increased geometrically” since the pandemic. He criticized federal inaction, stating that instead of building domestic production, the U.S. has doubled or tripled its reliance on China for medical gloves and other life-saving equipment.
Maier emphasized the national security risks involved, noting that healthcare workers, law enforcement, and military personnel all rely on quality domestic supplies. “The status quo is existentially unsafe,” he said, advocating for American-made solutions to secure critical infrastructure.
Former Senator J.D. Vance, now Vice President, echoed these concerns in a February 2024 letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. Alongside other senators, Vance warned that the Biden administration had failed to strengthen the country’s medical supply chains. “Without swift action, our nation could find itself once again dependent on our adversaries for essential goods,” the senators wrote.
Breitbart News highlighted the administration’s mishandling of a domestic glove production plan and reported a six-year doubling of syringe and needle imports from China. Meanwhile, China has shown its willingness to weaponize trade, recently banning gallium exports to the U.S. and threatening to restrict access to rare earth minerals.
Garrett Murch of GCM Strategies and Maier, writing for American Affairs Journal, warned that “a potentially hostile power can shut down the U.S. healthcare system.” They noted over half of critical medical supplies now come from China, including gauze, catheters, and nitrile gloves. During a crisis, U.S. stockpiles could deplete within days.
The duo called for concrete policy shifts to restore American manufacturing, including:
- Enforcing Buy American laws to require 25–34% domestic PPE sourcing.
- Providing tax incentives for investment in U.S. medical manufacturing.
- Establishing development finance for critical industries.
They asserted that a second Trump administration could bring the necessary “sea-change” for medical manufacturing. With renewed focus on both national health and economic independence, reshoring the medical supply chain would protect Americans and reduce leverage from foreign adversaries.
