Background and Concerns
- US Tariffs as a Means of Pressure: US President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs of 200 percent on medicines from Europe to compel European manufacturers to invest and produce more in the USA.
- Time Pressure for Transition: VFA President Han Steutel emphasizes that establishing new production facilities in the USA requires time. One year is insufficient for building a factory, except in exceptional cases like the Corona vaccine from Biontech.
- Global Impacts: The tariffs could disrupt global value chains and increase the costs of medicine production, possibly leading to a dangerous game with patient care.
Possible Impacts
- Price Increases in Europe: The VFA President does not expect prices in Europe to rise, as prices cannot simply be increased in any European country.
- Supply Shortages: Experts warn of potential supply shortages and rising costs for consumers, both directly and through public funds.
- Long-Term Consequences: In the long term, this could restrict the introduction of new therapies and damage public trust in the pharmaceutical industry.
Industry Reactions
- Call for Waiver of Compulsory Discounts: The pharmaceutical industry is urging the new federal government to forgo new compulsory discounts to mitigate the impacts of the tariffs.
- Willingness to Invest: Pharmaceutical manufacturers are prepared to invest and produce in the USA but require time for implementation.
Overall, the introduction of US tariffs on European medicines could have significant economic and health policy repercussions, both for the industry and for patient care.