Swiss pharmaceutical giant to invest $50 billion in US to avoid Trump tariffs

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche has announced plans to invest $50 billion in the United States over the next five years, in a move expected to create more than 12,000 new jobs and significantly expand the company's American footprint.

The announcement comes as pharmaceutical firms ramp up U.S. investments in response to the Trump administration's push for increased domestic manufacturing and potential tariffs on pharmaceutical imports. Roche’s investment marks one of the largest commitments yet, following similar moves by competitors Novartis, Eli Lilly, and Johnson & Johnson, Caliber.Az reports, citing Western media.

According to Roche, nearly 6,500 of the new positions will be in construction, while another 1,000 jobs will be based at new and expanded manufacturing and research facilities. The company currently employs 25,000 people across 24 sites in the U.S.

Chief Executive Thomas Schinecker emphasised that the investment reflects Roche’s long-term commitment to the U.S. market.

“Our investments of $50 billion over the next five years will lay the foundation for our next era of innovation and growth, benefiting patients in the U.S. and around the world,” Schinecker said.

The expansion includes the construction of a new gene therapy facility in Pennsylvania and a new plant for continuous glucose monitoring in Indiana. Roche will also expand manufacturing and distribution centres in Kentucky, Indiana, New Jersey, and California. A factory for weight loss medications is also planned, though the location has not yet been disclosed. Additionally, a new research hub focusing on cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases will be established in Massachusetts.

Notably absent from Schinecker’s remarks was any direct reference to the Trump administration’s recent probe into pharmaceutical imports, which could result in steep tariffs—up to 31% on Swiss exports to the U.S. The administration’s effort to reshape the pharmaceutical supply chain comes amid a surge in drug imports, which reached $213 billion last year, nearly triple the volume in 2014, according to the United Nations trade database.

By Khagan Isayev