Rare earth minerals are an essential ingredient of countless high-tech and electronics products. And China holds a near monopoly on the worldwide supply.
The dispute between the U.S. and China is more than a question of tariffs, says René Buck, CEO of BCI Global. It involves complex matters of intellectual property and re-sourcing.
The trade standoff between the U.S. and China has yet to seriously impact the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. But as neither side shows signs of backing down, and tariffs continue to be levied on virtually every segment, those sectors are preparing for a major supply-chain disruption.
China and the U.S. plan to highlight joint efforts to crack down on fentanyl smuggling, addressing an opioid epidemic that President Trump has asked his counterpart Xi Jinping to help alleviate as part of broader trade talks.
The trade war and China’s economic shift made 2018 a tough year for global shipping and will continue to reverberate through the industry, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
China’s aggressive campaign to bring down drug prices is leading to a “vicious cycle” and will prevent the emergence of a national pharmaceutical champion, said one of the country’s biggest drug makers.
A California congresswoman plans to hold a hearing in about a month to explore the national-security risks posed by China’s dominance of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain, escalating concerns raised by the Pentagon.