Big pharmaceutical companies are preparing for major investments in the United States, steering clear of the threat of tariffs on their finances. For now, announced investments amount to $339.3 billion (€290.881 billion), with major players accelerating their presence in the American bloc.

Among the plans of companies such as AstraZeneca, J&J, Roche, Novartis, Lilly, AbbVie and Gilead are the construction of new production and Research and Development (R&D) centers and the expansion of existing ones.

When the trade war was at its most heated, the US president threatened to impose tariffs of up to 200% on drugs and medical devices imported into the US, although the rate was fixed at 15% after the agreement. In the space of a decade, the US tripled its pharmaceutical imports, reaching $213 billion in 2024 alone.

Pharmaceutical companies are currently spread across several US states, and the modernization of their manufacturing centers will contribute to ongoing investments, not just relying on medications.

Currently, Europe accounts for about 60% of all US drug imports. The current agreement between the EU and the US only exempts generic drugs from tariffs, but it could cost the industry between $13 billion and $19 billion, an impact that could even reach consumers.