The British government is prepared to pay higher prices for medicines purchased for the National Health Service, the Financial Times reported on Friday, in a bid to ease one of U.S. President Donald Trump’s key complaints following his steep tariff hikes on branded drugs..
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief business adviser, Varun Chandra, will travel to Washington next week for talks, the report said.
Trump has repeatedly complained that prescription drugs cost far more in the U.S. than elsewhere in some cases nearly three times as much and has pressed drugmakers to cut American prices while raising them abroad. The UK’s willingness to consider higher payments could help offset the impact on companies’ revenues.
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A UK government spokesperson did not directly comment on the FT report but said Britain remained in “constructive dialogue with the U.S. and industry.”
“We will always put patients and taxpayers first, striking the right balance between creating an environment where this innovative sector can thrive whilst ensuring best value for money,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier on Friday, Britain said it was pressing the U.S. on pharmaceutical tariffs after Trump threatened to impose a 100% duty on firms unless they build manufacturing facilities in America.
Major British drugmakers including AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline already operate plants in the U.S. and have announced additional investment.
The Trump administration has given companies until Sept. 29 to lower some U.S. drug prices voluntarily, warning that tariffs will follow if the president is not satisfied.
