Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:06pm on 01 Dec 2025,Monday International
The UK and US reached a zero-tariff agreement on pharmaceutical imports after President Trump threatened tariffs up to 100%. Britain will increase NHS medicine spending from 0.3% to 0.6% of GDP over ten years and raise treatment cost thresholds by 25% in exchange for three-year tariff protection. Pharmaceuticals represent the UK's largest US export at £11.1 billion annually, comprising 17.4% of total goods exports. The deal addresses Trump's complaint that Americans subsidize global drug costs by paying premium prices. Major UK drugmakers GSK and AstraZeneca recently announced multi-billion-dollar US investments while pausing British projects. Drug company NHS rebate caps will be reduced from over 20% to 15%. (PC: Getty Images)
