Written by John Reville
Zurich (Reuters) – Roche said on Tuesday that it will invest $ 50 billion in the United States over the next five years, creating more than 12,000 new jobs, in the latest huge investment by companies that interact with President Donald Trump's policy.
The giant Swiss Pharma said that new positions will include approximately 6500 in construction and 1000 in new and expanded facilities.
This advertisement comes at a time when drug makers have revealed investments to deal with the customs tariff from the Trump administration, which seeks to enhance local manufacturing.
A fellow of the Swiss pharmaceutical maker Novartis said earlier this month that he will spend $ 23 billion in the United States, while Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson also announced recent investments.
CEO Thomas Xinker said the investment confirmed Roche's commitment to the United States, as it hires 25,000 people in 24 sites.
Basel said that once the new and expanded manufacturing capacity appears online, Roche will export more drugs from the United States more than its imports.
Among the investments, Roche will expand the manufacturing and distribution centers in Kentucky, Indiana, New Jersey and California.
A new genetic treatment factory in Pennsylvania will be built, along with a new plant to monitor the continuous glucose in Indiana.
A new weight loss factory will be built, with the advertisement of the site, as well as a research center for cardiovascular studies, kidney and metabolism in Massachusetts.
“Our investments amounting to 50 billion dollars over the next five years will set the basis for our next era of innovation and growth, and enhance patients in the United States and around the world,” Xinker said in a statement.
The executive authority did not mention the threat of the definitions looming on the horizon, as Switzerland faces a cost of 31 % on its exports to the United States.
Last week, the Trump administration launched an investigation into drug imports, as part of an attempt to impose a tariff on the sector.
The timing and extent of the fees remain unconfirmed, but the effect may be significant, as nearly $ 213 billion of pharmaceutical products has been imported to the United States last year, which is approximately $ 73 billion in Triple 2014, according to the United Nations Trade Database.
(Participated in the reports of John Reville, edited by Miranda Murray and Bernadet Boom)
