Article Summary –
An estimated 5.5 million Americans used wheelchairs by the end of 2024, with the majority being manufactured in China, yet when the Trump administration imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese goods in 2025, wheelchairs and other medical equipment were not exempt, leading to potential supply chain disruptions and increased costs. Despite a recent U.S.-China agreement cutting tariffs on certain goods, wheelchairs were not included, causing concern among healthcare organizations that rising costs could impact treatment outcomes and access to care, particularly in underserved communities. Additionally, the Trump administration’s Medicaid funding cuts compounded tariff impacts, potentially leading to further coverage and access challenges for disabled individuals.
By the end of 2024, approximately 5.5 million Americans relied on wheelchairs, a number expected to rise with the aging population. Between 70%-80% of these wheelchairs, whether electric or manual, are produced in China. When President Trump introduced a 145% tariff on Chinese imports in April 2025, wheelchairs and other medical equipment were not exempted.
In a recent meeting between Xi Jinping and Trump, the “30-for-30” agreement reduced tariffs on $60 billion of nonsensitive goods, excluding wheelchairs and essential medical supplies.
Days before the tariff was enacted, 10 healthcare organizations penned a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, predicting supply chain issues and price hikes for medical supplies, particularly in rural areas.
The letter expressed concern that rising costs might hinder treatment improvements, innovation, and care for growing populations, potentially increasing wait times and financial burdens on strained healthcare systems.
While Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers maintain fixed reimbursement rates, private insurers can negotiate rates. Tariff-induced price increases often force medical suppliers to absorb costs or pass them to patients.
In September 2025, the Trump administration probed the national security implications of medical imports, including wheelchairs, considering tariffs to boost domestic production.
The American Hospital Association urged tariff exemptions for medical imports to prevent supply chain disruptions. The Alliance for Aging Research stated that higher costs could severely impact older adults’ health and quality of life in a letter to the Commerce Department.
In July 2025, Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, cutting $1 trillion from Medicaid over a decade, potentially leaving up to 11 million Americans uninsured, according to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
Allie Gardner from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities explained to Mother Jones that Medicaid cuts, combined with tariffs, may make essential supplies inaccessible for disabled individuals, forcing states to reconsider eligibility and reimbursement rates, impacting coverage and care access.
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