Trump's tariff threats, measured by manufacturing

Though uncertainty still surrounds the Trump administration’s pharmaceutical import tariffs, the trade rhetoric set off a clear response across the industry in 2025. Drugmakers accelerated U.S. manufacturing plans, pushing production higher as companies looked to insulate their supply chains. Now, with many of those moves already underway, that breakneck pace is expected to level off through 2026 and 2027, according to a recent outlook from Atradius.

In this week’s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Pharma’s Fraiser Kansteiner speaks with Brady McKinney, an underwriter for Atradius' pharmaceuticals sector focusing on the Americas, about the credit insurer's recent industry report. McKinney explains how tariff concerns drove last year’s manufacturing surge and why Atradius expects a period of stabilization ahead. He also discusses how companies are weighing the risk of future trade flare-ups and what that could mean for production, investment and credit conditions across the sector.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

• Global pharma manufacturing output surged in '25 in 'front-loading' response to US tariff threats: report
• FDA emphasizes drug ingredients, production pledges as it debuts PreCheck manufacturing program
• In quick reversal, Trump calls off tariff threat related to Greenland pursuit
• 3 biopharma CEOs explain why they are 'authentically optimistic' for 2026

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