Trump slams EU as 'worse than China' amid drug price move
Donald Trump sharply criticised the European Union, calling it "worse than China." The former U.S. President announced a new regulation aimed at lowering drug prices in the United States.
Main information
- Donald Trump compared the European Union to China, claiming it is "worse."
- The U.S. President signed a regulation aimed at reducing drug prices.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supported Trump's criticism of Europe.
Donald Trump, the U.S. President, used strong words to criticise the European Union (EU), claiming that it is "in many aspects worse than China." His statement was made during the announcement of a decision to lower drug prices in the United States. Trump emphasised that the EU treats the USA unfairly, selling them millions of cars, while American exports to Europe are minimal.
Trump signed a regulation that imposes a 30-day deadline to lower prescription drug costs in the USA. If manufacturers do not comply with the new requirements, the federal government will take further steps. Trump stressed that the United States will no longer subsidise healthcare in other countries that pay significantly less for the same drugs.
European Union has been brutal, brutal. And the drug companies actually told me stories which is just brutal how they forced them. European Union suing all our companies – Apple, Google, Meta – they’re suing all of our companies. They have judges that are European Union-centric and they get rewarded $15billion, $17billion, $20billion, and they use that to run their operation. Not going to happen any longer, that I can tell you, said the American leader, quoted by the "Metro" service.
Reactions to Europe's criticism
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, supported Trump's criticism of Europe. He pointed out that the USA, despite constituting only 4.2 per cent of the world's population, generates 75 per cent of the revenues for pharmaceutical companies. Kennedy emphasised that Europeans pay significantly less for drugs, which is disadvantageous for the American market.
Trump's statements may affect trade relations between the USA and the EU. The European Commission expressed satisfaction with the USA-China trade agreement but is analysing its potential implications for EU interests. Meanwhile, the American pharmaceutical lobby has expressed concerns that Trump's policy may increase the USA's dependence on China for innovative drugs.
