EU officials are devising strategies to potentially “weaponize” vital medical exports, including antibiotics and other life-saving drugs, as a countermeasure to Donald Trump’s anticipated aggressive trade policies toward the European Union. According to reports, the EU is compiling a list of hundreds of pharmaceutical products—such as antibiotics, insulin, and radiation therapies—for which the United States heavily depends on European manufacturers to meet its domestic demand.
This move comes as part of broader contingency planning ahead of Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025, following his election victory over Kamala Harris. EU leaders fear that Trump’s administration could impose steep tariffs, with the president-elect having previously threatened a 20% levy on all foreign imports during his campaign. In response, the EU is exploring options to use its dominance in the pharmaceutical sector, where it accounts for approximately 70% of U.S. imports of certain drugs and medical devices like pacemakers, as leverage in potential trade negotiations.
Documents obtained by Politico reveal that Brussels is preparing a “smart and effective” retaliation strategy, focusing on products that would cause significant disruption if withheld. An EU official emphasized the bloc’s intent to “safeguard our interests and protect our market” while avoiding escalation into a full-blown trade war. The European Commission declined to comment on the specifics of these plans.
Analysts suggest that targeting critical medical supplies could pressure the U.S. to reconsider punitive tariffs, though such a tactic risks inflaming tensions further. With the U.S. facing shortages of generic drugs and a growing reliance on foreign supply chains—highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic—the EU’s position as a key supplier gives it considerable influence. Meanwhile, Trump’s team has signaled openness to negotiations, with an unnamed source close to the transition indicating that “everything is on the table” to secure favorable trade terms.
