The announcement comes as Germany tries to cut rising healthcare costs
The US has launched a trade investigation into Germany over claims of the country’s unfair drug pricing practices, escalating a transatlantic dispute with the EU’s biggest pharmaceutical market.
On Thursday evening, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced that Washington would launch a so-called Section 301 investigation into Berlin. The probe allows the Office of the US Trade Representative to pursue unilateral action against countries that impose “unfair” trade barriers.
“President Trump has made clear that American patients should not be shouldering a disproportionate share of global pharmaceutical research and development,” said Greer.
He added that he was “particularly concerned with news that Germany is fast-tracking legislation that would further reduce its spending on innovative pharmaceuticals,” referring to a package of healthcare reforms, including a cut in drug spending despite objections from the pharmaceutical industry.
