India, May 3 -- The recent 26% US tariff on Indian medical device exports poses a critical challenge to India's expanding MedTech industry. This tariff directly undermines cost-competitiveness, particularly impacting the crucial low-value, high-volume consumables segment.

While India's rate is lower than China's 34%, this slight advantage is overshadowed by the tariff's overall cost increase and the significant non-tariff barriers, notably the stringent US FDA regulatory process. The tariff magnifies existing vulnerabilities: India's heavy import dependence and its significant MedTech trade deficit with the US.

Indirect effects, like rising global component costs and potential tariff circumvention by competitors, add further complexity....