3D Printing: A Vital Technology 
for Economic Development 
and Sustainability 
Karen Bland
Head of Global Trade 
and Global Trade Counsel
September 16, 2021
1RD/IT/40Overview
Pandemic Response
Economic Development
International Trade 
SustainabilityAGENDA
2From specialized design, mass production,
inventory & global supply chainsTo seamless digitization from
design to localized production
$12T global manufacturing market
3D transformation 
Immersive design and digital 
productionInternet
Computer -aided design and 
JIT machine productionIndustrial Revolution
Blueprint design & mass 
productionNext Industrial Rev
Democratization of design and 
ubiquitous production
3D Printing: Changing How the World Designs & Manufactures
INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION HEALTHCARE CONSUMER
Data courtesy: Rady Children’s HospitalData courtesy: Skorpion EngineeringPandemic Response
45M+ Additive manufacturing delivered in watershed moment 
HP 3D Print COVID Response
Global partners and customers 
delivered products to fight pandemic
15
Digital design files available on HP website3D printed parts during COVID
New COVID product designs92Including face shields, nasal swabs, masks, 
ventilator and CPAP componentsCase study: Nasal swabs
Global supply shortage during high demand
HP partnered with Harvard and Beth Israel Medical Center 
to develop and clinically validate novel 3D printed swabs 
Design to production in just 35 days
HP customer Ziggzagg of Belgium became first company in 
world to receive CE certification for 3D printed nasal swabs1013151720253137
0510152025303540
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026$ billion3D Printing Projected Global Market 
Expected to double over next 5 yearsEconomic Development Benefits
5
Supply chain resilience
Innovation
Production Access•Localized production
•Virtual inventory
•Delivery speed
•Fourth Industrial Revolution 
•Customization and rapid prototyping
•Shared printing at service bureaus, universities, 
regional hubs
•Lower barriers to entry
•Small/medium enterprises, entrepreneurs
•New industrial revolution 
for developing countriesAdditive manufacturing flexibility fosters resilience, innovation, SMEs
Source: Additive Manufacturing Trends Report 2021, Hubs.com$21% Y/Y growth
during COVID17% Y/Y growth
2021 -202439% N. 
America
4%S. America30% Europe5%Middle East 
& Africa15% Asia Pacific 
(excl. China)7%ChinaInternational Trade
6WCO Established New Classification
HP Supports Further ITA Expansion
•HP actively supported ITA and ITA Expansion
•Printers and parts covered in ITA and ITA Expansion
•3D printers/parts fall outside scope product 
coverage of ITA and ITA expansion
•HP encourages 3D printers and parts coverage 
in future ITA expansion as a printing innovation
•Duties as high as 7.5% on 3D printers, 10% on parts•Today, 3D printers and parts classified 
inconsistently across geographies
•Difficult to collect accurate trade data
•New World Customs Organization note 10, chapter 
84 and heading 84.85 foradditive manufacturing 
equipment and parts effective Jan. 1, 2022Global Industry 2020
3D printer purchases by regionHP encourages duty elimination on 3D printers & parts
Source: 3DP 2020 Hardware Revenue Per Region, CONTEXTSustainability Benefits
•Prototyping
•Customization
•Low volume production
•Virtual inventory
7
3D printing contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals
•Increased SME access
•Innovative new business models
•New workforce skills
•Less waste, virtual inventory
•Powder reusability
•Extension lifecycle with replacement parts •Lower transportation emissions
•Redesign for lighter weight products
•Prosthetics and orthotics
•Dental aligners
•Anatomical models
•University research & training
•Engineering skills
•Technicians8Thank you!