Trump’s 15% tariff on medicines will harm patients, say EU drugmakers

Trade group says levy will reduce access, disrupt supply chains and cut R&D

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The European pharmaceutical industry has condemned the US move to put 15% tariffs on medicines imported from the EU, calling the taxes a blunt instrument" that would harm patients on both sides of the Atlantic.

They were responding to a White House text of the deal that inferred the 15% baseline rate on imports from the EU would also apply to drugs if the agreement is implemented on the US side on Friday as expected.