August 12, 2025

In (Faint) Praise of Pharmaceutical Import Tariffs

JRJames C. RobinsonUniversity of California System

Key Points

Moderate implementation of tariffs could support drug manufacturing in the US, bringing jobs back.
The current tariff system faces weaknesses, impacting its effectiveness in the pharmaceutical sector.
Discussion centers on the reinvestment of tariff revenues, which may boost pharmaceutical innovation.
A focus on industrial policy may help stabilize and enhance domestic drug manufacturing capacities.

Abstract

This Viewpoint discusses the reasons that drug manufacturing is leaving the US; highlights the weaknesses of tariffs as currently implemented for bringing it back; and calls for the moderate implementation of tariffs as one component of industrial policy and the reinvestment of tariff revenues in pharmaceutical innovation.

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Cite This Study

James C. Robinson (Mon,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/68a360f20a429f7973329c8d https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.12207