U.S. Officials Urge Germany to Pay Higher Prices for Pharmaceuticals in Washington Meeting

U.S. officials told the German ambassador over breakfast in Washington that Germany should pay more for pharmaceuticals. U.S.

Pays less, Stat reported. U.S. officials discussed the possible use of tariffs under Section 301, which grants the government authority to combat trade practices considered unfair. The tariff tactic would be similar to previous uses of threatening new tariffs to get other countries to pay more for drugs.

The German ambassador agreed to review the matter with officials in Germany, but no deal was made. U.K. victory. The meeting occurred shortly before Stat published its account on May 15, 2026.

A pharmacy in Germany, where officials are working to limit health spending, illustrates the stakes for European governments. U.S. drug costs a priority by shifting more of the burden to trading partners.

Section 301 has provided leverage in past negotiations on pharmaceutical pricing. No further commitments emerged from the Washington session, according to a person familiar with the meeting. Daniel Payne, the Washington correspondent who covers the intersection of the health industry and the federal government, wrote the account.

He reports on corporate influence in government, the health consequences of federal policies, and the politics of health care.