Trade Truce Hope: How US-China Talks Could Boost Healthcare ETFs

Core Insights - The upcoming bilateral meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Oct. 30 at the APEC Summit has raised hopes for a potential de-escalation in the U.S.-China trade war, which could significantly impact the healthcare sector and related ETFs [1][11]. Healthcare Sector Impact - The healthcare sector is heavily reliant on global supply chains, particularly from China, making it vulnerable to trade disruptions and tariff increases that raise input costs for medical devices and pharmaceuticals [3][5]. - Approximately 30% of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) used in the U.S. healthcare system are sourced from China, with over 90% of generic sterile injectable drugs depending on APIs from either India or China [6]. - Nearly 99% of medical gloves and about 60% of syringes used in the U.S. are imported from China, highlighting the sector's dependence on Chinese manufacturing [7][8]. Financial Implications for Companies - Major pharmaceutical and medical device companies, such as Johnson & Johnson and GE HealthCare, have expressed concerns about the financial impact of U.S. tariffs, with JNJ anticipating $400 million in tariff-related costs and GE HealthCare expecting about $500 million in total tariff impact for the year [9][10]. - A reduction in tariffs resulting from the U.S.-China trade talks could lower supply-chain costs and alleviate uncertainty, which would be beneficial for healthcare ETFs [11]. ETFs to Watch - Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV): This fund has $36.93 billion in assets under management and charges 8 basis points in fees. Its top holdings include Eli Lilly (12.30%), Johnson & Johnson (8.74%), and AbbVie (7.60%) [13][14]. - iShares U.S. Healthcare ETF (IYH): With net assets of $2.93 billion and a fee of 38 basis points, its top holdings are Eli Lilly (11.94%), Johnson & Johnson (8.41%), and AbbVie (7.34%) [15]. - Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT): This fund has net assets worth $15.3 billion and charges 9 basis points in fees. Its top holdings include Eli Lilly (10.33%), AbbVie (5.76%), and United Healthcare (4.94%) [16].