Sen. Tim Sheehy (R., Mont.) is introducing legislation Wednesday aimed at ending the practice of foreign governments forcing American patients to shoulder the cost of developing new medicines while paying artificially low prices themselves.
The Washington Reporter has learned that Sheehy’s “Use Sovereignty to Reduce Rx Act”, or USTRx Act, would establish a new pharmaceutical trade negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, require annual reports exposing foreign drug pricing abuses, and create a framework for the United States to respond when high-income countries use price controls that discriminate against American innovation.
Sens. Ted Budd (R., N.C.) and Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) will be joining Sheehy in introducing the legislation. Rep. Jodey Arrington (R., Texas) is leading companion legislation in the House.
The legislation comes as the Trump administration has already intensified its scrutiny of Germany’s pharmaceutical pricing practices. As the Washington Reporter previously reported, U.S policymakers are expressing growing concern towards Germany that the country’s pricing system systematically undervalues innovative American medicines and shifts research costs onto U.S. consumers.