Coronavirus shows US needs to restore pharmaceutical production — in Puerto Rico

[Hoodat]

Coronavirus shows US needs to restore pharmaceutical production — in Puerto Rico

By Post Editorial Board     |     March 7, 2020 | 10:29pm

Though coronavirus has only begun to show up in America, it’s already exposed the nation’s serious over-reliance on China for pharmaceutical production. As Washington looks to address that, it should consider killing two birds with one stone by using the issue as a chance to give Puerto Rico a leg up.

After all, the island was for decades a central hub of US drug manufacturing. It would do the commonwealth and the mainland a world of good to restore that preeminence.

About 90 percent of the active ingredients (manufactured “precursors”) used by US drugmakers now come from China. With that country’s factories largely shut down by the outbreak, America’s pharmaceutical supplies are at risk even as the virus hits here. The Food and Drug Administration fears a shortage of widely used generic drugs.

Moving to ensure some domestic capacity for future crises is a no-brainer. And boosting Puerto Rico, now struggling with a debt crisis plus hurricane and earthquake damage, should be one, too.

In the 1970s, Congress passed tax breaks for companies that set up shop in Puerto Rico. Drugmakers took advantage and soon made the island one of the world’s top pharma-production centers.

But President Bill Clinton signed a law to start phasing out the tax breaks in the 1990s. Once they expired fully in 2006, the industry began a major pullout from the island.

https://nypost.com/2020/03/07/coronavirus-shows-us-needs-to-restore-pharmaceutical-production-in-puerto-rico/


Unfortunately, even if these manufacturers return to the US, the intellectual know-how and trade secrets will remain in China.

[truth_seeker]

I am all for decoupling from China, in favor of our own hemisphere, and our territories.

[libertybele]

I am all for decoupling froour own hemisphere, and our territoriesm China, in favor of

I was unaware until now that many of our pharmaceuticals are manufactured in China.  Alarmed actually.  I can think of a couple of recalls from toys to Chinese drywall, yet we entrust this country with medicines that are vital to our health and our lives?  I'd ask why, but it boils down to corporate profits and greed and little concern for American citizens.

While I understand why Puerto Rico is considered, one hurricane or major storm could wipe out that portion of the pharmaceutical industry.  Risky business.  Why not bring the pharmaceutical production to somewhere inside the U.S., such as Colorado or Montana, where natural disasters are rare?  Why not several states??