Nanosonics chief executive Michael Kavanagh says the Trump administration’s tariff plans could drive the next generation of local medical manufacturing businesses to the United States unless the federal government steps in and helps them keep development onshore.

Kavanagh has been in the medical device sector for years. A Cochlear executive for a decade, he became the chief executive of Nanosonics, which makes disinfection devices, in 2013. The company now employs 500 people, has a research hub in Sydney and a market capitalisation of $1.4 billion.