Name: EC Midday press briefing of 10/11/2026
Uploaded: 2026-11-10T11:38:47+00:00
Duration: 178 s

EC Midday press briefing of 10/11/2026

10 November 2026

Contents updated on 10 Nov 2026

Danish TV journalist asks about the US Section 301 investigation into European (notably German) pharmaceutical pricing, the planned visit of US officials to Germany, reports of an EU task force response, and Belgian calls to consider using the EU anti-coercion instrument to protect consumers from potential drug price hikes.

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 European Commission

Follow its sittings

00:02 - 00:39

Speaker 4

Hi, Elise Hässellund from TV 2 Denmark. My question is on trade or pharma, we'll see, but it's regarding the investigation from the American administration into European drug prices. We understand that American officials are headed to Europe, to Germany, this month to talk about the setting of European drug prices. This has been an issue for a very long time, of course. We also understand from a meeting recently among EU countries that they want to establish some kind of task force to deal with this pressure, this probe from the American administration.

00:39 - 01:12

Speaker 2

So, my question is, what is the latest status here? We also hear from the Belgian government that we should consider using the trade bazooka, the anti-coercion instrument. So, how do you see this debate at the moment and what is the Commission going to do to counter this pressure, ongoing pressure, from the American administration to make sure that it's not the European citizens and consumers who are going to end up with a massive bill paying for potential rises in prices? Thanks.

01:12 - 01:27

Speaker 1

Thank you, Lise. And I'll ask Arianna to join us, Arianna, who is today stepping in for Olof for trade questions.

01:27 - 02:05

Speaker 3

Ah, there you are, thank you. So, as I think we have already had a chance to say, we have taken note of the US decision to initiate a Section 301 investigation concerning Germany's pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement framework. The EU and the United States share a strong and long-standing partnership underpinned by extensive trade, investment, research, and innovation ties in the sciences and the pharmaceutical sector. It is important to maintain tariff-free and barrier-free trade in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector. We have had an occasion to recall this already in the past.

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