Sign inTariffs sow confusion in hearing market as German chain dumps Starkey in protest against "fascist" US
Nervously watching and waiting, manufacturers of hearing aids worldwide are resisting speculation on likely disruption to their markets. Audiology Worldnews editors are monitoring the situation across Europe, where one chain of 40+ practices has hit back against threatened tariffs by ditching US-made hearing devices.
© iStock -Dmitry Dmitry
In a concerned global audiology marketplace, responses to aggressive tariff measures announced, altered, and paused by the Trump-led US administration have ranged from significant unease to go-it-alone reprisal.
The picture is still forming, though whether the next week's political proceedings will make things any clearer is anyone's guess. Markets have crashed, then risen. Commentators and politicians warn of recession. U-turns on selected tariff targets and territories have dizzied players in all sectors. So far, it remains nebulous whether the moves will end up including tariffs on medical devices. Confusion reigns.
Nevertheless, the tariff threat was enough for one chain of 41 specialist audiology centres in northern and western Germany to move immediately to a declaration it would no longer sell hearing aids from American manufacturers. With immediate effect, Hörakustik Schmitz GmbH & Co. KG announced its decision in a starkly political email sent to the...
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