Switzerland’s pharmaceutical industry warned on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order imposing 100% tariffs on branded medicines will disrupt global production and supply chains, hinder research and development, and ultimately harm patients — and urged the Swiss government to negotiate a tariff exemption similar to one secured by Britain.
Interpharma, the trade association representing Swiss drugmakers, said in a LinkedIn statement that the tariffs — signed into law by Trump on Thursday — would apply to branded pharmaceuticals imported into the United States unless manufacturers agree to U.S. government drug-pricing deals or commit to making products onshore. The association called on Swiss authorities to press for “a solution on par with that of the United Kingdom” in their own talks with Washington, stressing the goal of keeping pharmaceuticals as free as possible from the new levies.
The U.K. government announced a deal on Thursday that it says makes Britain the only country to retain tariff-free access for U.K.-made medicines to the U.S. market after the executive order. That agreement reportedly involves concessions on pricing: Britain has accepted higher prices for some new drugs, including those procured by the National Health Service, in exchange for continued tariff-free access.
Interpharma warned that the U.S. measures risk cascading effects across a global pharmaceutical ecosystem built on international supply chains and specialised manufacturing hubs. “The tariffs imposed by the U.S. threaten global production and supply chains for pharmaceuticals, hinder research and development, and ultimately harm patients worldwide,” the association said, urging Switzerland to secure comparable protections to avoid undermining its exporters and the availability of medicines.
The stakes for Switzerland are substantial. Chemical and pharmaceutical products accounted for more than half of Switzerland’s total exports in 2025, which reached a record 287 billion Swiss francs, the association noted. Excluding gold, other precious metals, gems, artworks and antiques, Swiss exports to the United States were valued at 54.7 billion Swiss francs, underscoring the U.S. market’s importance for Swiss industry.
Interpharma’s appeal comes as governments and companies worldwide assess the practical effects of Washington’s tariff strategy on cross-border trade in pharmaceuticals, an industry long reliant on international research partnerships, component sourcing and contract manufacturing. Switzerland’s demand that its government pursue parity with the U.K. reflects concern that unilateral U.S. policy choices could prompt costly reshoring demands, higher prices or restricted patient access if global supply lines are recalibrated. ($1 = 0.7994 Swiss francs)