Two UK NGOs, Just Treatment and Global Justice Now, are preparing the first steps towards a possible judicial review against the UK government over legislation implementing the UK-US pharmaceuticals pricing agreement struck to avoid the threat of ‘Section 301’ unfair trade tariffs.
At the centre of the dispute is a deal agreed on in December 2025 where the UK committed to raising the threshold used to assess whether medicines are considered cost-effective for NHS use by 25% and agreeing to increase NHS spending on medicines over the next decade. In return, the United States agreed to keep tariffs on UK pharmaceutical exports at 0% for at least the next three years.
The agreement was reached after Trump repeatedly threatened tariffs of up to 100% on imported branded medicines, despite already reaching a trade deal with the UK government on 8 May. That agreement was contingent on the findings of a US Section 232 investigation, which allows the US to impose tariff based on national security concerns. These tariffs have been successfully challenged in US courts.
Pharmaceuticals are one of the UK’s most valuable exports to the United States, with exports worth more than £11 billion annually. The government presented the agreement as a success compared to the European Union…
