Donald Trump announced on Monday at a press conference in the White House that he would recommend the ministry of trade to start investigating the practices of foreign countries – mainly from the EU – which “force very low prices from pharmaceutical companies” and unfairly shifts the burden of costs on American patients. “
– The most important thing we do will be to inform these countries, such as those represented by the European Union that you know: “The end of this good, I'm sorry” – said Donald Trump. – If they want to get off, they no longer have to sell cars to the United States. But they do not get away because I will defend pharmaceutical companies – he added.
Donald Trump about the policy of the European Union: nasty than China
The US President stated that the authorities of some countries “forced” low prices of drugs at pharmaceutical concerns, and companies made up for the increase in prices in the US, so “American patients in practice subsidized healthcare systems in Germany and all parts of the European Union.”
According to Donald Trump, the European Union in terms of approach to trade is “nasty than China”, but “there are no cards” and will have to agree to large concessions in negotiations.
– They sell us 13 million cars. We don't sell them any. They sell us their agricultural products. We don't sell them practically anything. They don't take our products. This gives us all the cards (…) will have to pay more for health care, and we will have to pay less – he noted.
The US President wants to reduce medicine prices. “The most powerful lobby”
Pursuant to Donald Trump signed by the executive regulation, other elements of the president's plan to reduce the prices of drugs, including Determining medicines at the level of other developed countries by means of appropriate regulations, as well as increasing the import of medical agents from abroad. According to the document, the companies will have 30 days to make progress to reduce the prices of medicines in the US, and if they do not do it, appropriate regulations are to be introduced to bring to this.
Donald Trump said that he was in this way against “the most powerful lobby, the drug lobby.” Head of the US Health Department Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He added that only Trump was able to take such actions because “you can't buy it”.
According to the American administration, these activities are to reduce medicine prices by up to 80 percent. Currently, American prices are on average three times higher than those in other developed countries.
Donald Trump's regulation may face resistance
According to the New York Times, the president's decree may be blocked by courts if Congress does not adopt similar provisions. The initiative will encounter the opposition of the pharmaceutical industry, which has so far justified higher prices with the need to finance research on the development of new drugs.
During the Monday conference, Trump also referred to the previously announced agreement with China about the reduction of duties for 90 days. The US President stated – not quite in accordance with the facts – that China agreed to “fully open” to American products and eliminate all non -armal trade barriers. In fact, Beijing agreed to cancel customs and other retaliation, not any other barriers. Donald Trump announced that at the end of the week he could have a telephone conversation with the Chinese leader XI Jinping.
According to the concluded agreement – described by Trump as a “total reset” – both sides agreed to withdraw their duties imposed from April 2, so the rate for Chinese products will be 30 % for the next 90 days, and for American – 10 percent. Meanwhile, the powers are to start talking on a comprehensive commercial agreement.
