March 28, 2025
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, P.C., M.P. Minister of Finance
The Honourable Anita Anand, P.C., M.P. Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
The Honourable Kamal Khera, P.C., M.P. Minister of Health
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Dear Ministers,
On behalf of the members of the National Biotech Accord, which represent Canada’s biotechnology and life sciences ecosystem, we are writing to express our shared concerns regarding the potential impact of U.S.-imposed tariffs and Canada’s intent to impose countermeasures.
Members of Canada’s biotechnology ecosystem represent a critical and strategic asset, driving scientific innovation, supporting high-skilled jobs, and contributing directly to both the health and well-being of Canadians and the long-term strength of the national economy.
The announcement of new tariff regimes marks a historic turning point in Canada–U.S. relations while bringing economic uncertainty and potential damage to patients and the sector at large. In this context, we recognize that the government is providing an opportunity for engagement on intended Canadian retaliatory measures. While we hope that diplomatic efforts will lead to a resolution that avoids tariffs altogether, we must ensure that any future retaliatory actions do not inadvertently disrupt Canada’s economy, growing biotech ecosystem, healthcare system, or patient access to essential treatments.
Specifically, our respective members are concerned that imposition of such tariffs would reduce patient access to care, create costly supply chain disruptions, decrease access to new innovations via clinical trials, and increase overall health system costs. We urge the Government of Canada to at minimum explicitly exclude retaliatory tariffs on the list of goods defined as “pharmaceutical products” with headings “30.01-30.06” of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, acknowledging that other codes related to ancillary products, including packaging, vials, needles, and syringes, as well as medical technologies, and related inputs should also be excluded.
There is a patient at the end of every medicine, and the lives of patients on both sides of the border should not be caught in the crossfire of a trade dispute. Any disruption to the biotechnology sector poses a direct and immediate risk to the delivery of care and patient outcomes.
Further, in recent years, both federal and provincial governments developed and implemented life sciences and biomanufacturing strategies designed to accelerate the creation and scaling up of biotech companies and biomanufacturing facilities across the country. The strategies and their corresponding investments have greatly enhanced Canada’s competitiveness as a biotech nation. Combined with the influx of private investment capital, Canada’s biotech sector is now experiencing a generational moment as companies have signed partnerships with global pharma companies and other investors totaling $26 billion since 2019 (with 65 deals amounting to $12 billion in 2023 alone).
Canada must capitalize on the investments made to date and remain competitive against challenging global economic realities. Today’s geopolitical uncertainty and detrimental tariffs will impact all components of the Canadian life sciences sector today, and in years to come. This is not the time to undermine that progress or hinder the sector’s global competitiveness. On the contrary, we have a singular window of opportunity before us to strengthen the sector and further enhance Canada’s competitiveness as a biotech nation.
As the situation evolves rapidly, this letter reflects our initial response. We will keep you informed as we actively work to monitor impacts and identify solutions that strengthen and safeguard the sector as a strategic Canadian asset for both the economy and the health of Canadians.
Yours sincerely,
Wendy Zatylny, President & CEO, BIOTECanada
Karen Churchill, President & CEO, Ag-West Bio
Andrea Ladoucer, President & CEO, Bioscience Association Manitoba
Robb Stoddard, President & CEO, Bio Alberta
Rory Francis, CEO, PEI Bio Alliance
Benoît Larose, CEO, BIO Québec
Wendy Hurlburt, President & CEO, Life Sciences BC
Doris Grant, CEO, Life Sciences Nova Scotia
Jason Field, President & CEO, Life Sciences Ontario
Maura Campbell, CEO, OBIO