TALHASSEE, Fla. — US Sen. Rick Scott is calling on the Trump administration to take strong action to secure the US drug supply chain and reduce reliance on foreign-made generic drugs, particularly from China and India.
In a letter sent to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US trade representative Jamieson Greer, Scott praised the administration for moving forward with the “America First” agenda, but urged him to move forward with a Section 232 investigation into imported drugs. The investigation could pave the way for tariffs or other measures aimed at boosting drug production in the country.
Scott warned that dependence on foreign US suppliers, particularly China, which provides an estimated 80% of active drug ingredients (APIs) used in common drugs, poses both national security and public health risks.
“Generics make up 90% of US-filled formulas, but 70-80% of these rely on Chinese and Indian ingredients,” writes Scott. “Our supply chain is dangerously exposed.”
Citing the shortage of key drugs, such as cancer treatments and antibiotics, Scott said reliance on overseas manufacturing makes Americans vulnerable to confusion and quality concerns. He referenced a recent study that found foreign generics were associated with a 54% higher risk of serious adverse events compared to US-made drugs.
Scott, who chairs the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging, has made the issue a priority in recent months. He held hearings on vulnerability in drug supply and previously wrote to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to encourage stronger surveillance of foreign manufacturers.
In his latest letter, Scott asked the administration to consider immediate Section 232 tariffs on foreign generic drugs and ingredients, or to step up in stages with a tariff system that levelles the arenas for domestic producers within at least a year.
“Supply chain integrity requires reducing exposure to strategic vulnerabilities,” Scott said. “Generic drugs in China and India pose a clear risk for Americans walking into pharmacies.”
Scott reaffirmed his support for policies promoting drug manufacturing in the country, and concluded his letter by writing that ensuring a reliable supply of safe, American-made medicines is “crucial to protecting the health and safety of Americans.”
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