Op-Ed: Heather Johnston: With Middle East allies, Congress can strengthen American medical security

President Donald Trump has paused many of his proposed tariffs, giving his team time to negotiate trade deals with many countries. China, however, has chosen to clash with the U.S. resulting in tariffs that range from 125 percent to 145 percent on imports from China. This will certainly be difficult for the many industries that rely on Chinese imports, but when it comes to pharmaceuticals, it’s a matter of American national security, it’s necessary, and Congress has an opportunity to support President Trump’s efforts.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee is considering a bill that includes a provision establishing a Food and Drug Administration office in an Abraham Accords country. They should mark it up and move it to the House floor for a vote. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee should work on a companion bill.

Passing this legislation would be a crucial step toward reestablishing American national security when it comes to the pharmaceutical supply chain, an unsettling percentage of which is dependent on untrustworthy nations like China. In a letter to the FDA, a number of Representatives wrote, “we are worried that the United States is overly reliant on sourcing from foreign manufacturers with a demonstrated pattern of repeatedly violating FDA safety regulations.”

The United States imported $10.3 billion worth of pharmaceuticals from China in 2022. This was a stunning 485 percent increase over 2020, just two years earlier.

Congress has rightfully been concerned about the reliability and quality of foreign drug and medical device manufacturers. Chinese manufacturers receive among the most FDA Warning Letters regarding violations that include carcinogens in medicines, destroying or falsifying of data, and non-sterile manufacturing processes.

In China, the ruling Communist Party of China has expanded its National Security Law which is now so broad that it allows CCP officials to arrest FDA inspectors or block their access to manufacturers’ records if doing so is deemed in the Chinese “national interest.”

In addition, according to the FBI, “China is the world’s principal infringer of intellectual property,

and it uses its laws and regulations to put foreign companies at a disadvantage and its own companies at an advantage.” This very much includes the theft of American IP, meaning that all the medical research underlying new pharmaceuticals and medical devices produced in China are targeted by CCP industrial espionage.

The Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property is an independent and bipartisan initiative of leading Americans from the private sector, public service in national security and foreign affairs, academia, and politics. Their 2017 report estimated that the annual cost to the U.S. economy of Chinese IP theft exceeds $225 billion and “could be as high as $600 billion.” This is a tremendous economic cost to our country.

Even worse, this IP theft includes the manufacture of counterfeit goods. If counterfeit goods are knock-off faux designer purses, it’s not okay but it’s not deadly. But if these counterfeit goods are ineffective or dangerous medications or faulty medical devices, this could cost untold numbers of American lives.

Clearly, the U.S. is in need of more secure and reliable sources for the medications Americans count on for their health and well-being. Congress has an opportunity to take an innovative approach to achieving this necessary goal.

By passing legislation to create a staging ground in friendly nations in the Middle East for the U.S. Life Sciences offshore supply chain, Congress can support President Trump’s efforts to end our dependence on China and diversify our offshore supply. This “friendshoring” system will open an FDA office in Israel or one of the Abraham Accords countries, nations that are aligned with our values and have American interests at heart.

Israel has consistently been a leader in global medical advances. From smart hospitals, to healthcare AI, to medical device innovation, to life science research, Israel regularly tops international rankings, outperforming much larger countries including our own. An FDA office in the Middle East will facilitate cooperation, allowing Americans to benefit more quickly from this strategic ally’s progress.

Congress can turn the risk of IP theft and sub-par medication from unreliable rivals into the benefit of collaboration with steadfast partners. We urge lawmakers to take up and pass this important legislation and send it to President Trump’s desk for his signature.

Americans deserve the best healthcare that meets the highest standards for safety and effectiveness. An FDA office in the Abraham Accords region enables this goal and harnesses the most cutting-edge medical advances for the benefit of our people here at home.

Heather Johnston is the Founder and CEO of U.S. Israel Education Association, a nonpartisan organization that advances dialogue and cooperation between the United States and Israel.