Cancer Drugs and United States Tariffs: Attention Must Be Paid.

Abstract

The Trump Administration has signaled its intent to impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals worldwide, raising uncertainty about the potential impact on cancer treatments in the United States. Increasing concern surrounds the possibility that these tariffs may compromise the quality of care and adversely affect the survival outcomes of cancer patients across the country. The proposed tariffs on pharmaceuticals threaten to worsen already high drug costs and disrupt access to essential cancer treatments. As Martha Basey of Patients for Affordable Drugs points out, "We know that already one in three people in the United States can not fill their prescriptions because of high costs. We expect the pharmaceutical companies not to let this chaos over trade go to waste Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation and try to raise prices while pointing the finger at tariffs." Given the complex global supply chain and existing drug shortages, tariffs risk increasing prices without encouraging more domestic production or improving patient care. For these reasons, policy experts strongly caution against imposing broad tariffs on cancer medicines and advocate for alternative solutions to protect access to and affordability of these medications.