STAT+: Trump’s drive to get Europe to pay more for drugs creates uncertainty for countries, patients

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Source: STAT News

Original: https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/02/trump-drug-prices-mfn-deal-europe-confidenti...

Published: Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0000

President Donald Trump is pushing for rich European countries to pay more for drugs, which he wants to reduce drug prices in the US by up to 90 percent.[1][2] He signed an order to reduce prices in the US to the level of the lowest price in developed countries and plans 30 days of negotiations with pharmaceutical companies.[1] Pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca made deals with Trump last fall that will affect the European market in 2026.[3][4] Europe pays, on average, a third less for drugs than the US, thanks to national health care systems.[3] Great Britain has raised the prices of new American drugs by 25 percent in exchange for tariff concessions in a new trade deal with the US.[3] Trump is threatening to impose tariffs of up to 200 percent on foreign-made drugs if the countries do not cooperate.[5] This can lead to increased drug prices, shortages or restricted access to new drugs in Europe.[2][3] The Slovak Minister of Health announces negotiations at the EU level.[2]