The Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization on Oct. 30 welcomed the bilateral trade deal between the U.S. and South Korea announced during U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Gyeongju, South Korea.

The Trump administration’s consideration of a new round of tariffs has prompted two major med-tech trade association to advise the White House to leave medical consumables and medical devices out of any new tariffs, citing concerns about the impact on patient care.

Although U.S. President Donald Trump’s Oct. 1 start date for a hefty biopharma sector tariff has come and gone, the threat remains, serving as both a stick and a carrot to get drug companies to come to the table with their best deals.

Ernst & Young LLP didn't quite declare the patient cured but saw signs of a strong med-tech recovery after a few years on life support in its annual Pulse of the MedTech Industry report. The global accounting giant particularly called out strength in the cardiovascular, diabetes, robotics and orthopedics segments.

Despite down-to-the-wire negotiations, the odds are that parts of the U.S. government will shut down at midnight Sept. 30, as Senate Democrats refused to support a seven-week, clean continuing resolution already passed by the House to keep the government funded while Congress hammers out fiscal 2026 spending bills.

The threat of tariffs on imports of branded drugs is about to be realized after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 100% import duty will apply beginning Oct. 1. However, the flurry of recent announcements by pharma companies of investments in U.S. manufacturing plants may have paid off, with the president saying in his announcement on Truth Social that the 100% rate will be enforced “unless a company is building their manufacturing plant in America.”

The threat of tariffs on imports of branded drugs is about to be realized after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 100% import duty will apply beginning Oct. 1. However, the flurry of recent announcements by pharma companies of investments in U.S. manufacturing plants may have paid off, with the president saying in his announcement on Truth Social that the 100% rate will be enforced “unless a company is building their manufacturing plant in America.”

The Trump administration has launched an investigation into the national security effects of imports of medical equipment, devices, consumables and equipment, laying the groundwork for a potential increase in tariffs targeting the industry. A separate investigation into robotics and industrial machinery began the same day. Med-tech stocks dropped significantly in response to the news as investors fear increased tariffs on the sector. In April, the administration initiated a similar review of the pharmaceutical industry and in August threatened 200% tariffs on that sector.

Celltrion Inc. announced plans to acquire from Eli Lilly and Co. a Branchburg, N.J.-based biologics cGMP facility for $330 million up front, with plans to invest up to a total of ₩1.4 trillion (US$1 billion) in plant acquisition and expansion.