STAT+: Top U.S. officials pressured Germany to pay more for prescription drugs
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- U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with German Ambassador Jens Hanefeld and health adviser Chris Klomp at a breakfast to discuss drug pricing.
- Trump administration is using a broader strategy to pressure foreign markets to pay more for medicines while the U.S. seeks lower domestic costs.
- Section 301 tariffs were floated as a possible lever, giving the U.S. authority to address “unfair” trade practices in drug pricing.
- German Ambassador Jens Hanefeld said he would take the proposal back to Berlin for review, but no immediate agreement was reached.
Why it matters: U.S. drug manufacturers stand to benefit, while German patients will face higher out‑of‑pocket costs, and the move adds pressure on trans‑Atlantic trade relations as Washington seeks to shift cost burdens abroad.
