BIA response to the DBT request for input on potential response to US tariffs
The BIA submitted our response to DBT's request for input on a potential response to US tariffs.
The request for input is intended to ascertain the impacts that any future UK tariffs might have, if applied on US goods, in response to the US government’s recent tariff announcements.
The BIA welcomes the opportunity for input, as the Life sciences is a globally integrated sector with complex, interdependent supply chains. Disruption to these supply chains could have significant societal and economic impacts, particularly on patients and UK-based life science innovators and manufacturers - both large and small. The imposition of tariffs or other trade barriers risks undermining access to medicines, delaying innovation, and harming the UK’s global competitiveness. The BIA therefore supports the de-escalatory approach taken by the UK Government in response US tariffs.
In our response we:
- Emphasise that preventing tariffs and other trade barriers being installed is of overwhelming benefit for the UK economy and NHS patients.
- Highlight that - beyond pharmaceuticals - tariffs on other products used in the life sciences supply chain, including for R&D, are already in place and are putting strain on the sector.
- Reiterate that other actions of the US Administration, such as science funding cuts and regulatory job losses, are also impacting the sector, and should be given equal consideration to tariffs.
- Welcome the fact that pharmaceutical products and ingredients are largely excluded from UK list of potential product targets for tariffs, but urge that all products of noted pharmaceutical use should be excluded on a precautionary basis - including packaging, laboratory/scientific equipment, and more niche ingredients.
