Breaking the Chains: The BIOSECURE Bill and the Future of US Healthcare in a World Without Chinese Partnerships

There has been a growing movement in recent years to separate the US from any deals with the Chinese economy. The latest sector to feel the potential repercussions is healthcare, as there are proposals to prevent US drug companies from outsourcing tasks to Chinese companies. The publication The Economist has touched on this issue, emphasizing the significant impact it could have on American customers of Chinese firms.

Many American pharmaceutical firms have raised concerns about the BIOSECURE bill, which they believe may not allow them to meet demand or complete clinical trials if passed. Replacing Chinese capacity would be a challenging and costly endeavor for big Western drug companies, potentially taking at least five years. For biotech startups that rely on Chinese partners for research and manufacturing, the bill poses an existential threat, affecting the development of new drugs.

The idea of “national security” arguments is complex because almost anything could potentially be connected to this vague concept. The question arises whether weakening China reduces the likelihood of war by diminishing the power of the adversary or if it increases the risk of war due to wealthy countries having more to lose. The effectiveness of nationalism in comparison to internationalism remains a point of contention.