TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — U.S. Sen. Rick Scott is calling on the Trump administration to take stronger action to secure America’s pharmaceutical supply chain and reduce dependence on foreign-made generic drugs, particularly from China and India.
In a letter sent to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Scott praised the administration for advancing the “America First” agenda but urged it to move forward with a Section 232 investigation into imported pharmaceuticals. The investigation could pave the way for tariffs or other measures aimed at boosting domestic drug manufacturing.
Scott warned that the United States’ heavy reliance on foreign suppliers — especially China, which provides an estimated 80% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in generic drugs — poses both national security and public health risks.
“Generics make up 90 percent of prescriptions filled in the United States, yet 70 to 80 percent of these rely on ingredients from China and India,” Scott wrote. “Our supply chain is dangerously exposed.”
Citing shortages of critical drugs such as cancer treatments and antibiotics, Scott said dependence on overseas manufacturing leaves Americans vulnerable to disruptions or quality concerns. He referenced a recent study that found foreign generics were associated with a 54% higher risk of serious adverse events compared to U.S.-made medicines.
Scott, who chairs the Senate Special Committee on Aging, has made the issue a priority in recent months. He held hearings on pharmaceutical supply vulnerabilities and previously sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging stronger oversight of foreign manufacturers.
In his latest letter, Scott asked the administration to consider immediate Section 232 tariffs on foreign generic drugs and ingredients or, at minimum, to phase in a tariff system that levels the playing field for domestic producers within a year.
“The integrity of our supply chain requires reducing exposure to strategic vulnerabilities,” Scott said. “Generic medicines from China and India present a clear risk for any American who steps foot into a pharmacy.”
Scott concluded his letter by reaffirming his support for policies that promote domestic drug manufacturing, writing that ensuring a reliable supply of safe, American-made medicines is “critical to protecting Americans’ health and safety.”
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