The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), of which MichBio is a state affiliate recently released the results of a survey of its members, noting that “U.S. Biotechs Sound the Alarm” on tariff impacts. The findings include: Tariffs on European Union and Canadian imports would increase manufacturing costs for 94% and 82% of biotech firms, respectively. 70% of companies anticipate higher manufacturing costs due to tariffs on China. Tariffs on the European Union would force 50% of biotech firms to identify new research and manufacturing partners. More than 50% of biotech firms predict “increased difficulty” in funding and conducting research if EU tariffs are enacted. 80% of biotech firms would need at least 12 months to find alternative suppliers; 44% would need over two years. The survey noted that sudden tariffs would fundamentally punish American companies, threaten vital research projects and imperil United States leadership in biomedical science. Read BIO’s press release , along with an one-pager summarizing the survey results. 

A federal commission, in a new report , is calling for $15 billion in new financing to reinforce the United States’ biotech leadership amid encroaching competition from China. This comes against a backdrop where the Trump Administration has proposed severe cuts to NIH operations and funding. The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology was created by Congress in 2022 to explore how biotechnology advancements could shape the economy and national security. The body quickly focused on China, as that government has gone about gathering Americans’ genetic information and intellectual property in the biotech space and resourcing their cluster’s rapid growth. The report’s 49 recommendations, organized across six strategic pillars, offer a bold and actionable framework to protect U.S. biotech intellectual property and bolster drug development, agriculture, and biological weapons defense: Prioritize biotechnology at the national level Mobilize the private sector to get U.S. products to scale Maximize the benefits of biotechnology for defense Out-innovate our strategic competitors Build the biotechnology workforce of the future Mobilize the collective strengths of our allies and partners The report calls for $1 billion to create an investment fund, more than $6 billion for large-scale research challenges, and a build-up of biomanufacturing sites across the country. Also, it calls for new legislation barring companies that work with U.S. national security agencies or health agencies from using certain Chinese biotech suppliers. The commission doesn’t have the power to authorize any changes but can make recommendations and advise members of Congress. BIO issued a statement in support.