Connect with us

Health

NGOs challenge UK-US medicines pricing deal

SHARE:

Published

4 weeks ago

on

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Two UK NGOs, Just Treatment and Global Justice Now, are preparing the first steps towards a possible judicial review against the UK government over legislation implementing the UK-US pharmaceuticals pricing agreement struck to avoid the threat of ‘Section 301’ unfair trade tariffs.

At the centre of the dispute is a deal agreed on in December 2025 where the UK committed to raising the threshold used to assess whether medicines are considered cost-effective for NHS use by 25% and agreeing to increase NHS spending on medicines over the next decade. In return, the United States agreed to keep tariffs on UK pharmaceutical exports at 0% for at least the next three years.

The agreement was reached after Trump repeatedly threatened tariffs of up to 100% on imported branded medicines, despite already reaching a trade deal with the UK government on 8 May. That agreement was contingent on the findings of a US Section 232 investigation, which allows the US to impose tariff based on national security concerns. These tariffs have been successfully challenged in US courts.

Pharmaceuticals are one of the UK’s most valuable exports to the United States, with exports worth more than £11 billion annually. The government presented the agreement as a success compared to the European Union... 

Share this article:

Share this:
Related Topics:
Guest Contributor - Opinion

Opinions expressed are purely those of the author and not endorsed by EU Reporter. The article was unsolicited by EU Reporter, and the author guarantees the truthfulness of the contents of the article. No payment was made by EU Reporter to the author

EU Reporter publishes articles from a variety of outside sources which express a wide range of viewpoints. The positions taken in these articles are not necessarily those of EU Reporter. Please see EU Reporter’s full Terms and Conditions of publication for more information EU Reporter embraces artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance journalistic quality, efficiency, and accessibility, while maintaining strict human editorial oversight, ethical standards, and transparency in all AI-assisted content. Please see EU Reporter’s full A.I. Policy for more information.
Advertisement

Trending