Pharmaceutical companies and industry groups have called on the European Commission to urgently negotiate with the United States to avoid future tariffs and reduce non-tariff barriers in the medical sector. The warning came during a high-level virtual meeting with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The session focused on growing concerns over the potential imposition of US tariffs on EU pharmaceutical exports—a move that could severely disrupt global supply chains and access to essential medicines.
Pharma Industry Pushes for Trade Stability
Leading European pharmaceutical giants, including Novo Nordisk, Bayer, Sanofi, and Roche, joined the call, along with trade groups such as EFPIA, Eucope, EuropaBio, and Medicines for Europe. These organizations stressed the need for a stable transatlantic trade environment and warned that even with recent exemptions, the threat of tariffs still looms.
The sector narrowly escaped tariffs during the latest round of US trade measures, but the Commission acknowledged that future actions remain possible. Ireland, Denmark, Germany, and Belgium—major hubs for pharmaceutical exports—could be hit hardest.
Supply Chains and Patient Access at Risk
Participants highlighted that tariffs would not only damage European business interests but also affect patient care on both sides of the Atlantic due to disrupted supply chains. The EU exported $127 billion (€117 billion) worth of pharmaceuticals to the US in 2024, making it the largest EU export sector to America.
Trade groups warned that new barriers could drive companies to shift investments away from Europe, undermining competitiveness. EFPIA members emphasized the urgent need to protect intellectual property and streamline EU pharmaceutical regulations to remain globally competitive.
Strategic Dialogue for Long-Term Solutions
This marks the first formal “strategic dialogue” between the EU and pharmaceutical stakeholders—a format initially introduced during recent farming protests to enhance industry-policy collaboration. The European Commission signaled its intent to maintain close communication with the sector moving forward.
Industry leaders also urged the Commission to revive discussions on the stalled EU pharmaceutical package and simplify regulatory processes, especially in areas like patent protection.
The dialogue is expected to set the tone for deeper EU-US cooperation on pharmaceutical trade and innovation, amid rising geopolitical and economic uncertainty.