The Vision Council (TVC) testified before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on May 5, urging the exclusion of eyewear and optical products from potential tariff actions under Section 301 investigations. The hearings, being held May 5–8 at the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., are examining structural excess capacity across 16 global economies.
Key Industry Concerns
Omar Elkhatib, TVC’s director of government relations, delivered testimony outlining the optical industry’s position. He outlined five key points:
- Tariffs on imported inputs, such as specialty polymers, acetate, titanium alloys, and optical blanks, increase domestic manufacturing costs rather than protect U.S. production.
- The eyewear sector’s demand-driven, high-mix supply chain differs from industries typically associated with overcapacity.
- Additional duties could compress margins and limit investment in innovation.
- Rising costs are likely to be passed on to patients, reducing access to essential vision care products.
- Eyewear products are already subject to existing Section 301 tariffs, compounding the potential impact of new duties.
Elkhatib also emphasized that prescription eyewear is classified as a Class I medical device by the FDA yet does not receive the same tariff exemptions as other low-risk medical products. According to TVC, more than 70% of Americans rely on prescription eyewear, meaning even modest cost increases could lead patients to delay care, with potential downstream effects on public health and productivity.
Additional Insight and Resources
“We appreciated the opportunity to speak on behalf of our members about the real impact of tariffs on businesses and patients,” says Ashley Mills, TVC’s CEO. “Additional duties would raise manufacturing costs, weaken U.S. competitiveness, and make vision care less affordable for the workers and families who need it most.”
“The optical industry’s story is distinct from the sectors at the center of this investigation,” adds Elkhatib. “Prescription eyewear is a demand-driven, medically necessary product, not a commodity subject to structural overproduction. We believe we presented a compelling case for why our industry and products fall outside the scope of the excess capacity concerns.”
The Vision Council offers members several tariff-related resources, including policy updates, financial modeling tools, and guidance and explanations on evolving trade conditions.