Pharmaceutical companies resist repatriating production of medicine to US

Epoch Times:

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro slammed Big Pharma’s attempts to send a letter to President Donald Trump opposing a potential “Buy American” executive order.

Trump’s proposed executive order—which aims to reduce dependence on China—will encourage companies to relocate the production of essential medicines, medical equipment, and supplies to the United States.

In response to the push by the lobby groups against the executive order, Navarro told The Epoch Times in an email, “America is more than up to that task, and Big Pharma and its well-heeled Swamp Creatures need to stop being such a divisive element in American politics.”

The Association for Accessible Medicines, a trade group for major pharmaceutical manufacturers such as 3M, drafted a letter dated March 24 to Trump, opposing the plans of reshoring medical supply chains. The draft letter, which was leaked by Spectator USA Magazine, stated that such measures “could undermine the complex arrangements between firms that allow for efficient delivery of medicines to patients.”

The letter, signed by 40 organizations, including PhRMA, a Big Pharma lobbying organization, warned that the proposed plan could harm efforts to supply necessary equipment and medicines to fight the growing pandemic.

“None of the Buy American provisions in the proposed Executive Order would apply during the current COVID-19 crisis,” Navarro responded.
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The Trump administration sees the current situation as a strategic vulnerability as China is not meeting the current demand for protective gear and medication.  Several members of Congress also see this as a problem including Sen. Tom Cotton.