Inside EU Health: Trump tariff threat; tobacco taxation; G7 cancer commitment; Ebola
Trump continues to threaten pharma tariffs; Parliament rejects tobacco taxation report; EU backs coordinated Ebola response and commits further €31.5 million; G7 leaders renew commitment to fight cancer
Trump continues to threaten pharma tariffs
Speaking in Évian at the G7 (16 June), US President Donald Trump continued to saber-rattle over tariffs on pharmaceutical imports, warning that companies that do not relocate production to the United States could face duties of up to 200%.
“We’ll be making almost all of our pharmaceuticals [in the US] … if they don’t build [local US factories], they’ll have 150–200% tariffs to pay. If they do build, they have no tariff to pay,” Trump said.
The EU/US trade deal agreed at Turnberry last summer set a ceiling of 15% on all tariffs imposed on pharmaceuticals. The European Parliament voted yesterday to approve tariff legislation, but added additional provisions strengthening its supervisory role and a safeguard mechanism, should the agreement lead to an increase of imports that cause “serious injury” to EU industry.
Parliament rejects tobacco taxation report
The European Parliament on Wednesday (17 June) failed to adopt an opinion on the revision of the EU's Tobacco Taxation Directive (TTD), rejecting the report from its Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) and leaving the institution without a formal position.
The report, drafted by Czech MEP Tomáš Kubín (PfE), had been approved by the ECON Committee last month and was intended to guide Parliament's position on the European Commission's proposed overhaul of tobacco taxation rules. However, MEPs voted against adopting the report (439 MEPs, 67%. against).
Public health advocates welcomed the outcome, arguing that the committee text would have weakened the Commission's proposal. The Smoke Free Partnership (SFP) said the vote "keeps the debate on EU tobacco taxation open" and "leaves space for renewed discussion on the Directive's core public health objectives and the consideration of more ambitious measures."
SFP nonetheless described the result as a missed opportunity for Parliament to endorse stronger tobacco control measures, adding that ambitious amendments tabled by the Left, Renew, the Greens and S&D were voted down.
The proposal also suffered a setback in Council, where the Swedes blocked agreement.
Catherine Feore
The Commission's proposal seeks to update tobacco excise rules across the EU, reduce disparities between member states and extend taxation to nicotine products. SFP stressed that "taxation is one of the most effective tools for reducing tobacco use, particularly among young people".
The Irish Presidency has made the file a priority and hope to reach an agreement during their presidency of the EU.
EU backs coordinated Ebola response and commits further €31.5 million
G7 leaders have called for a strong and coordinated international response to the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
The European Commission has announced an additional €31.5 million in funding, bringing the EU’s total contribution to €493 million for emergency assistance, medical research, humanitarian support and health security measures. Funding is channelled through international health organisations and direct support to the DRC, Uganda and the wider Great Lakes region.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that when the world faces a common threat, global solidarity is the only effective response.
Pandemic Agreement: Meanwhile, EU health ministers were updated on negotiations over the WHO Pandemic Agreement during yesterday’s Health Council meeting.
An EU official told Vital Signs that the Union had made significant efforts to identify potential compromise solutions and had stretched its negotiating position to its limits, while other parties had not shown a comparable willingness to move.
Negotiators remain divided over the design of the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, one of the key unresolved elements of the agreement. According to the official, discussions are continuing, but consensus remains elusive. During the Health Council meeting, three member states took the floor to express regret that a workable solution had yet to be found.
G7 leaders renew commitment to fight cancer
The leaders of the G7 have issued a renewed call to accelerate the global fight against cancer, backed by partner countries Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya and the Republic of Korea. The statement, agreed at the G7, highlights the urgent need for stronger international cooperation.
A major focus of the initiative is improving research collaboration on paediatric, adolescent and young adult cancers. The G7 aims to enhance international data sharing, promoting interoperable cancer registries and supporting secure integration of clinical, genomic and imaging data, including through the use of artificial intelligence.
The statement also prioritises cancers with poor prognosis, calling for expanded screening programmes and greater international cooperation on clinical trials and innovative research. In addition, leaders committed to improving access to high-quality cancer care and ensuring that advances in oncology benefit patients worldwide.