The Chronic Care Policy Alliance, joined by 32 other organizations, submitted the following letter to the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security regarding tariffs on pharmaceutical imports:
May 7, 2025
Eric Longnecker
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technology Security
Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230
Stephen Astle
Division Director, Defense Industrial Base
Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230
RE: Public Comments on Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Ingredients (Docket No. 250414-0065)
Dear Deputy Assistant Secretary Longnecker and Director Astle:
The undersigned organizations respectfully urge the Bureau of Industry and Security to protect patient access to medications by opposing the imposition of tariffs on pharmaceutical products and the chemical components used in their manufacturing. While we support efforts to strengthen domestic production and secure critical supply chains, those objectives must not compromise patient access to medications.
Imposing tariffs on pharmaceutical imports could increase the cost of medicines and ingredients, with those costs likely being passed on to patients—many of whom already face high out-of-pocket expenses. In addition, supply disruptions caused by trade restrictions could hinder timely access to treatment, particularly for patients who rely on medicines produced abroad.
Patients are not ordinary consumers; they do not select the medications they are prescribed and cannot select alternatives based solely on where an item was manufactured. Individuals living with chronic, rare, or complex conditions often have limited options, as only certain treatments work for their specific medical needs. Hindering access to treatment options due to higher costs or reduced availability can have devastating health consequences. Patients deserve policies that protect—not endanger—their ability to access the full range of treatments prescribed by their doctors.
We applaud the administration’s commitment to growing the domestic pharmaceutical sector. However, it is essential that this vision be paired with protections that maintain the affordability and accessibility of medications for patients. Tariffs on pharmaceutical products and chemical ingredients would undermine those goals and could jeopardize the well-being of millions.
These concerns are not new, nor is the understanding that medications and the patients that rely on them deserve unique safeguards. These special circumstances have long been recognized and addressed through multilateral action. The United States has been a party to the WTO Pharmaceutical Tariff Elimination Agreement since 1995, alongside key global allies including the European Union, Canada, Japan, and others. This agreement eliminated tariffs on hundreds of pharmaceutical products and chemical intermediates to ensure access to life-saving medications was not impeded by trade barriers.
The agreement remains a critical safeguard for patients and a model for responsible global trade in essential goods.
We respectfully urge the administration to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to tariff-free trade in pharmaceuticals and their inputs, and to preserve the systems that protect patients’ access to the medications they depend on for their health and quality of life.
Sincerely,
Chronic Care Policy Alliance (CCPA)
AiArthritis
Alliance for Patient Access
American Behcet’s Disease Association
Applied Pharmacy Solutions
APS Foundation of America
Arizona Chronic Care Together (ACT)
Born a Hero Research Foundation
California Rheumatology Alliance
Caring Ambassadors Program
Coalition of Wisconsin Aging and Health Groups
CURED Nfp (Campaign Urging Research for Eosinophilic Diseases)
Gaucher Community Alliance
Greater Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce
Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform
Global Blood Therapeutics
Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation
HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute
International Association of Hepatitis Task Forces
Latin Chamber of Commerce
National Adrenal Diseases Foundation
National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs
National Scleroderma Foundation
Neuropathy Action Foundation
Nevada Chronic Care Collaborative
Nevada Pharmacy Alliance
NW Rare Disease Coalition
Ohio Life Sciences Association
Oncology Nurses Society (ONS)
Phaware Global Association
Psychiatric Physicians Alliance of California
Sickle Cell Disease Foundation
Sjogren’s Foundation