“Tariffs would critically harm patients” – HLC Highlights Private Sector Actions to Strengthen Healthcare Supply Chain

The Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC), an association of CEOs and C-suite executives from all sectors of healthcare, responded to the Department of Commerce’s request for information (RFI) regarding the initiation of a Section 232 National Security Investigation of imports of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients.

“HLC shares the Administration’s commitment to safeguarding national security and ensuring the resilience of critical healthcare infrastructure,” said Katie Mahoney Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of HLC. “However, imposing new trade restrictions or import barriers could unintentionally create shortages, delay treatment, and raise prices for both providers and patients.”

The response showcases that HLC member companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Merck, are already expanding their U.S. manufacturing footprint. It emphasizes that imposing disruptive policies like tariffs risks proactive domestic investments.

HLC urges the Administration to consider meaningful solutions to bolster national security, such as:

• Expanding domestic production through long-term procurement contracts, tax incentives, and regulatory streamlining;
• Supporting workforce development;
• Encourage sourcing diversification;
• Improving transparency and coordination across agencies;
• Modernizing stockpiling and emergency preparedness, as well as proactively engaging stakeholders.

“Tariffs and non-tariff barriers would critically harm patients and are not necessary to spur domestic production. Because this investigation covers both finished pharmaceuticals and their inputs, such policies risk disrupting the affordability, availability, and timely production of essential medicines for American patients,” underscored Mahoney.

The RFI response is available here.

Published May 7, 2025