- United States
- Mich.
- Letter
Reject Executive Order on Pharmaceutical Tariffs
I am a voting constituent writing to you with strong opposition to the recent executive order imposing a 100% tariff on imported branded pharmaceuticals and their ingredients. The immediate and unethical effects of this order are devastating for everyday Americans who rely on life-saving medications.
These tariffs significantly drive up the cost of healthcare. Experts estimate that a tariff of this magnitude will increase medication costs by an average of $600 per year for the typical American household. For seniors on fixed incomes and families managing chronic conditions like cancer, diabetes, or heart disease, these added costs are not just an inconvenience—they are a barrier to survival.
There are additional impacts:
Drug Shortages: Our pharmaceutical supply chain is globally integrated. Imposing sudden, heavy tariffs disrupts the flow of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished drugs, leading to shortages of critical treatments, including antibiotics and infusion therapies.
Failed Immediate Onshoring: Onshoring pharmaceutical production is a complex process that takes five to ten years to implement. Applying tariffs today creates a massive financial gap long before domestic facilities can begin production, leaving patients to pay the price in the interim.
Reduced Innovation: The increased operational costs and market uncertainty diverts funds away from research and development, slowing the arrival of new cures and therapies.
I urge you to take immediate legislative action to block this executive order. Enact policies that lower drug prices and support domestic manufacturing through positive incentives, rather than punitive measures that tax the health and well-being of the American people.