"The "milestone" UK-US pharmaceuticals agreement announced earlier this month, under which the NHS is expected to pay more for medicines in exchange for zero tariffs on exports to the US, currently rests on little more than headline commitments set out in two government press releases. No underlying draft treaty or legally binding framework has yet been produced."
"The Department of Health said negotiators were now working through the detailed terms of the pharmaceutical agreement. When asked for the agreed headline conditions, the department referred to its own press release and a US government statement describing the arrangement as an "agreement in principle". Critics have pointed out stark differences between the two announcements. The UK described the deal as securing zero tariffs on pharmaceuticals, while the US statement focused on higher prices for medicines supplied to the NHS, suggesting costs could rise by around 25%."
The UK-US pharmaceuticals agreement rests on headline commitments in two press releases without a draft treaty or legally binding framework. The arrangement anticipates the NHS paying more for medicines in exchange for zero tariffs on exports to the US, but negotiators are still working through detailed terms. Washington paused the £31bn "tech prosperity deal" citing insufficient UK progress on lowering other trade barriers, and promised farm concessions remain unapproved despite a looming January implementation deadline. Officials pointed to press releases and a US statement calling the arrangement an "agreement in principle", while critics highlighted conflicting descriptions and political risk.
Read at Business Matters
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