Drugs giant Roche pledges $50 billion U.S. investment

STORY: Drugs giant Roche said Tuesday (April 22) it would invest $50 billion in the U.S. over the next five years. It’s one of the biggest such moves made by major companies as they grapple with Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs. The Swiss firm said the move would create more than 12,000 jobs, including nearly 6,500 during construction. Though medicines are currently exempt from Trump’s tariffs, that could soon change. “The drug companies are in Ireland and they're in lots of other places. China. And all I have to do is impose a tariff. The more the faster they move, the higher the tariff situation.”The threat has makers scrambling to announce investments to counter Trump’s tariffs, which he says are intended to boost domestic output of pharmaceuticals. Roche says its investment will include new research facilities and expanded manufacturing in locations including Indiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and California. Once all that comes on line, the firm says it will export more drugs from the U.S. than it imports. Chief Executive Thomas Schinecker said the investment underscored Roche’s commitment to the country, where it already employs 25,000 people. It all follows an earlier pledge by Swiss rival Novartis to invest $23 billion in the U.S.

STORY: Drugs giant Roche said Tuesday (April 22) it would invest $50 billion in the U.S. over the next five years.

It’s one of the biggest such moves made by major companies as they grapple with Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs. The Swiss firm said the move would create more than 12,000 jobs, including nearly 6,500 during construction. Though medicines are currently exempt from Trump’s tariffs, that could soon change.

“The drug companies are in Ireland and they're in lots of other places. China. And all I have to do is impose a tariff.

The more the faster they move, the higher the tariff situation.”The threat has makers scrambling to announce investments to counter Trump’s tariffs, which he says are intended to boost domestic output of pharmaceuticals. Roche says its investment will include new research facilities and expanded manufacturing in locations including Indiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and California.

Once all that comes on line, the firm says it will export more drugs from the U.S. than it imports.

Chief Executive Thomas Schinecker said the investment underscored Roche’s commitment to the country, where it already employs 25,000 people. It all follows an earlier pledge by Swiss rival Novartis to invest $23 billion in the U.S.

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