The Vision Council Engages USTR on Tariff Impacts to U.S. Eyewear Manufacturers

(PRESS RELEASE) Last week, leaders from The Vision Council met with senior officials at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to address the rising impact of tariffs on domestic manufacturing, patient costs, and the long-term competitiveness of the U.S. vision industry.

The Vision Council was represented by Ashley Mills, CEO, and Omar Elkhatib, Senior Manager of Government Relations, and welcomed Ken and Paula Weissman, Owners, Modern Optical and Giulia Valmassoi, CEO, Thema Optical North America, to speak on behalf of eyewear manufacturers.

During the meeting, The Vision Council emphasized the real-world impacts of tariffs on raw materials, components, and finished eyewear products, highlighting how these policies constrain growth, limit hiring and innovation, and raise prices for consumers.

The Vision Council also highlighted the strong potential of U.S. eyewear manufacturing to drive job creation, expand export capacity, and support sustainable economic growth, especially as the industry increasingly incorporates AI to enhance production and innovation. They also advocated for a strengthened “Made in USA” labeling policy designed to reward companies that invest, hire, manufacture, and distribute domestically.

Key Issues Discussed with USTR:

• Rising patient costs: Out-of-pocket eyewear expenses have increased by roughly 10% this year, pushing consumers toward low-cost foreign vendors and weakening demand for U.S.-made products.
• Health implications: More than 61% of Americans rely on prescription eyewear.
• Impact on vulnerable populations: Seniors, children, and Medicaid beneficiaries face the greatest burden as rising costs strain providers serving state and federal programs.
• Regulatory parity: Inconsistent tariff treatment across low-risk Class I medical devices creates uncertainty and additional expense for eyewear manufacturers.
• Strengthening U.S. manufacturing: Companies investing in domestic production discussed how tariff relief could accelerate onshoring and bolster supply-chain resilience.

The Vision Council also requested USTR guidance on federal tools that can support workforce growth and U.S. eyewear manufacturing expansion. As these resources become available, we will share them with members.

Members can access tariff calculation tables and a tariff simulator tool on The Vision Council’s website to stay informed.

If you have any questions please contact Omar Elkhatib, Senior Manager of Government Relations, at [email protected].