Prescription drugs have been exempt from customs duties in the past. But Donald Trump appears to be poised I’ll change that It’s already April 2nd. It could lead to a drug shortage that is important for Americans, warning experts.
Bupropion is used to treat major depressive disorders. Ivarizumab in patients with multiple resistant HIV. And sotalols to treat life-threatening heart rhythm problems: they are just a few of the drugs that were primarily manufactured in Canada and sent to the US that could be affected by tariffs.
Research letter Published in jamaOn Monday, it examined the potential impact on tariffs on Canadian drugs identified hundreds of drugs made in Canada for the US market. The authors are only or primarily manufactured in Canada.
“These drugs are essential to Americans, but they are also shipped from Canada and importantly. Therefore, these tariffs could have an impact in the future on the supply chain and how Americans acquire these specific drugs.”
“I don’t think people are dying on the streets, but a lot [these drugs] It’s like HIV treatments that help people prolong their lives,” Tadrous said.
“The quality of care for a patient is damaged.”
Canada manufactures an estimated $3 billion in the US for the US market each year, the author says. The 25% US-imposed tariff on Canadian-made prescription drugs adds a US cost of $750 million to buyers.
Tweet around fragile supply chains
According to the author of the Jama article, Canada is not the only or largest drug manufacturer in the United States.
But disruptions in the sensitive supply chain of drugs can have a huge impact, for example, if manufacturers change how much they produce or distribute, experts like corruption.
In the short term, US tariffs on Canadian drugs could raise costs for American patients. In the long run, tariffs and anti-crimes can disrupt the supply chain and cause problems in Canada and elsewhere, if you warn experts. (Regis duvignau/Reuters)
In the past, even minor changes in the supply chain have led to drug shortages. And Americans have been using up prescription drugs frequently since the Covid-19 pandemic. It got really bad in 2023 Senate Homeland Security Committee We examined the increase in shortages as a threat to national security.
David Zugalick, professor emeritus at Boston’s Northeast University pharmacy, said if tariffs were introduced on April 2, patients and pharmacists could begin to see the effects in a few weeks.
“We’re sort of stepping into new waters here, but it’s very easy to see a scenario that could be very difficult for pharmacies, patients and healthcare providers if we just start tariffs on all drugs,” Zgarrick said.
Impact on the Canadian market
Tariffs will initially hit Americans the most violently, but Canadians will not be able to escape if tariffs remain in the long term.
“If these supply chains are global, the shortages don’t pay attention to borders,” Ogus said.
“The concern is that this kind of ripple and more tariffs will be placed by Americans not only in Canada but also in Europe and potentially China and India.
Drugs at the highest risk of shortages in Canada include IV drugs and other products used in hospital settings, as well as drugs used in very few populations.
Like a cardifferent parts of each drug usually come from all over the world, says corruption.
“There are probably five different countries to end the medicine here on the Canadian shelves. So if you start putting tariffs on each other and putting rebellion on them, it’s very difficult to navigate.”
Poor people say it can take months to years to build a single manufacturing site, and it can take three to four years to build a single new drug. Building domestic resilience takes years and he says it’s wise to start planning now.
“if [tariffs] As a Canadian, as a Canadian, we need to start thinking more about actions to maintain and protect our supply chain than we have now. ”
