EUCOPE statement on the European Commission’s Strategic Dialogue with the pharmaceutical sector and the potential of tariffs

Brussels, 8 April, 2025 – This morning, EUCOPE’s Secretary General, Dr Alexander Natz, joined the European Commission’s Strategic Dialogue with the pharmaceutical sector. We thank Commission President von der Leyen for convening this meeting as an important opportunity to share the perspective of the innovative small and mid-sized pharmaceutical sector on trade tariffs. The potential of tariffs could have major negative ramifications on the innovative sector in all disease areas, including rare diseases.

The pharmaceutical ecosystem is deeply global and interdependent. Disruptions to the flow of finished products, active ingredients, intermediates, and combination products could have unintended consequences for both European and American patients. These discussions also underscore the need for the EU to strengthen its regulatory and market access frameworks while continuing to support a competitive and attractive environment for life sciences. In this context, EUCOPE applauds the initiatives from the European Commission, ranging from the Draghi report to the Life Sciences Strategy and Biotech Act, which have the potential to strengthen the EU’s global competitiveness.

We call on all parties to uphold the principles of the WTO and refrain from imposing tariffs on pharmaceutical products. This should also include pharmaceutical precursors. The implementation of tariffs on this sector would risk not only increasing costs for both U.S. and EU manufacturers but could also negatively impact patient access to needed therapies on both sides of the Atlantic.

EUCOPE remains committed to being an active and constructive partner in this discussion. We reiterate the importance of the EU and its Member States adopting a long-term strategy that promotes and rewards research and innovation, including through appropriate commercial models, to the benefit of patients, industry, and society.

Download the press release here: EUCOPE PR – Strategic Dialogue with the pharmaceutical sector.