This is how Swiss politics reacts to Trump’s medication hammer

Massive deeper prices for pharmaceutical products in the USA. The consequences could be drastic for the Swiss pharmaceutical industry: less profit, less research, fewer. And the federal government as well as the cantons and municipalities in northwestern Switzerland threaten high tax failures.

The financial department of Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter (FDP) does not want to say anything: « We cannot comment on the recent announcement by the American President. »

Does the determination of medication prices now flow into the ongoing negotiations between Bern and Washington? « The Federal Council will determine the subject areas for further discussions, » writes the department.

The problem is: Trump’s medication decree not only affects the Swiss pharmaceutical industry, but all companies that sell medication in the USA. In addition, it is not unusual for a country to regulate the prices of drugs. Switzerland does that too. And: For the dossier pharmaceutical prices, Minister of Finance Scott Bessent is not responsible, which the basement-Sutter met several times. The topic is in the hands of Minister of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

SP throws Donald Trump « pure populism »

SVP parliamentary group leader Thomas Aeschi now says: « The USA is shooting into its own leg. » The result will be that certain medication in America would no longer be offered in the future. This makes wealthy US citizens treat them abroad.

Aeschi expects, however, that medication prices in the United States will be reduced less than now announced. « Trump represents excessive demands at the beginning of negotiations – in order to be able to negotiate a good compromise in the middle. »

Meanwhile, SP-Co President Cédric Wermuth emphasizes that it is not new that the pharmaceutical industry is artificially high to increase medication prices to increase profits. Trump announced similar steps at the end of his first term – without consequences. Only the Biden government had implemented certain price reductions.

Wermuth criticizes Trump’s inaccessibility: his announcement is pure populism. «It may be that he claims the opposite again tomorrow. This new U -turn also shows how illusory the Federal Council’s petting strategy is. Arbitrariness remains arbitrary.  » All those who cheered this policy of the Federal Council – including the pharmaceutical – would be better taught.

FDP calls for tax cuts in Switzerland

Central parliamentary group leader Philipp Bregy is careful: As so often, when President Donald Trump announced, neither their feasibility nor the effective consequences could be estimated-especially since the government does not set the medication prices in the United States. In this case, however, this is not clear. Perhaps the president’s decree is enough, the news portal CNN writes.

Bregy adds that it can be assumed that in the event of a price decay in the United States, the company’s ability to innovate would be weakened or that a global pressure on an increase in prices could arise. Both meet consumers.

FDP President Thierry Burkart underlines that the pharmaceutical industry is the most important export industry in Switzerland. « Donald Trump’s corresponding measures would take our country sensitive. » However, it is not the first time that the American President Trump tries to reduce prices in this way. In his last term, a court thwarted him.

Switzerland has to concentrate on what it could influence itself, says Burkart. First, it was important to continue the political dialogue with the USA. “Second, we have to improve the production conditions in Germany. If our companies are supposed to remain internationally competitive, our economy needs a revitalization program – that is, lowering taxes, pursuing the state, reducing subsidies. »