OBJECTIVES : The response of the U.S. healthcare system to the COVID-19 pandemic was limited by shortages of drugs, medical equipment, personal protective products, and medical supplies. This study assessed the U.S. international trade of medical products required for COVID-19.

METHODS : We collected trade data from the U.S. Census Bureau using the World Trade Organization classification system. We assessed trends in value and transactions of U.S. imports and exports of medical products from 01/2019 to 06/2020.

RESULTS : The pandemic resulted in the disruption of the global supply chain. US import transactions declined for drugs (-0.6%) and moderately increased for medical equipment (0.5%) , and medical supplies (1.7%) in the first six months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019. The value of imports increased for medical equipment (2.0%), medical supplies (6.9%), and medicines (16.0%). Despite the high demand generated by COVID-19, PPP imports decreased by 5.0% by value and only increased by 2.6% by transactions during the first three months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019. The U.S. import dollar value of PPP increased by 178.8%, and the import transactions increased by 9.6% during the period April-June 2020 compared to the same period of 2019. U.S. exports of medical products declined or moderately increased during the first six months of 2020.

The U.S. import dollar value and the number of transactions of PPP from China decreased by 14..6% and 3.3%, respectively, during the first three months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, and increased by 360.5% and 35.6%, respectively, during April-June of 2020.

CONCLUSIONS : The COVID-19 pandemic evidenced the fragility of the U.S. and global medical products supply chain. The integrity and resilience of the medical products supply chain require the collaboration of the U.S. public and private sectors and international cooperation.