President Donald Trump shared a striking anecdote from Georgia’s steel heartland: his threat of 100% tariffs on French wine compelled President Emmanuel Macron to rethink drug pricing worldwide.
Unveiling plans to mirror the globe’s bargain-basement drug rates in America, Trump spotlighted the injustice—U.S. patients footing bills up to 13 times higher than overseas peers. Phone diplomacy followed, zeroing in on key players.
Macron pushed back initially: ‘No way, it’d kill my industry.’ Trump countered decisively: fall in line, or your wines and champagnes double in cost stateside. The French leader agreed on the spot, vowing proud compliance.
Parallel triumphs over Germany, Spain, et al., cement tariffs’ prowess in Trump’s arsenal. To workers, he proclaimed them his premier term, crediting revival of U.S. industry. Drug shifts stem from this playbook, with some actions on legal hold.
He touted $18 trillion investment hauls in 11 months, unprecedented stock surges. This vignette captures Trump’s alchemy of tariffs, meds, and global chess—poised for wider impact.
America’s drug price premium versus Europe has long fueled outrage. Alignment bids stir tempests; Big Pharma alerts to innovation risks and chain strains. Trump’s bold stroke invigorates the fray.