For decades, medicines like insulin and crucial antibiotics have crossed borders without tariffs to help keep healthcare accessible. However, that may soon change. President Trump has indicated that he might impose higher tariffs on pharmaceuticals to reshape global trade and bring manufacturing back to the U.S. This shift could complicate the export of medicines from the European Union (EU), which are among the top goods traded with the U.S.
European pharma giants produce blockbuster drugs like Ozempic, cancer treatments, and flu vaccines priced to thrive in the lucrative American market. Léa Auffret from the European Consumer Organization expressed concern, stressing that "critical things that keep people alive" should not be caught in trade conflicts.
In anticipation of potential tariffs, some European pharmaceutical companies are considering shifting production to the U.S. to avoid costs imposed by tariffs. This change reflects the precarious position of the industry amid shifting trade policies led by President Trump.
