华盛顿：美国商务部周三表示，已对个人防护设备、医疗用品、机器人和工业机械的进口展开新的国家安全调查。

这项“232条款”调查于9月2日启动，但此前未公开披露。该调查可能被用作对一系列医疗和工业产品征收更高关税的依据，包括进口口罩、注射器和输液泵，以及机器人和工业机械，例如可编程计算机控制机械系统和工业冲压机。

该调查要求企业详细说明对机器人和工业机械的预期需求，以及“机器人和工业机械及其零部件的国内生产能够满足国内需求的程度”，以及外国供应链在满足美国需求方面所发挥的作用。

关税还可能涵盖外科口罩、N95 口罩、手套、防护服以及其他医疗和外科器械及用品，包括静脉输液袋、纱布/绷带、缝合线、轮椅、拐杖和病床。

美国商务部希望企业详细说明个人防护和医疗设备及器械的预计需求，以及国内生产能够满足美国需求的程度，以及外国供应链（尤其是中国等主要出口国）在满足美国医疗需求方面所发挥的作用，以及“外国政府补贴和掠夺性贸易行为的影响”。

此次调查还涵盖心脏起搏器、胰岛素泵、冠状动脉支架、心脏瓣膜、助听器、假肢、血糖监测仪、矫形器、计算机断层扫描仪和磁共振成像仪。

包括处方药在内的药品以及无人机是单独 232 项调查的一部分。

机器人调查涵盖用于切割、焊接和搬运工件的机床、高压釜和工业烤箱。激光和水切割工具及机械也包括在内。

美国商务部已启动多项调查，调查涉及风力涡轮机、飞机、半导体、重型卡车、多晶硅、铜、木材和关键矿产的进口对国家安全的影响。——路透社

Excluding the Covid-19 era (2019–2022), Top Glove has always maintained profits. It was consistently in the green. From 2002 to 2017, profits kept rising into the tens and even hundreds of millions of ringgit, proving the company’s strong fundamentals. Go check it if anyone doesn’t believe me.

Of course, Covid-19 was a unique situation. During the Covid-19 period, demand surged and profits multiplied significantly, but that was a special case.

After the pandemic (2019–2022), demand dropped and glove oversupply led to temporary losses. This was not a sign of weakness, but rather an industry-wide correction.

However, Top Glove responded strategically, reorganizing its sales approach and tightening product management strategy. Did it work? Yes. By late 2023, losses began to stabilize, and by 2025, profits had started returning.

That said, expectations should remain realistic. It will take some time to reach the pre-Covid profit levels of tens and hundreds of millions. So patience is key. Just don’t underestimate Top Glove. Remember, this is the world’s largest glove manufacturer, and its strong financial track record before Covid is proof of its success. Trust me, Top Glove is not just surviving now, it’s preparing for its next climb. With enough time, this company will surely rise again.