Senate Special Committee on Aging Flags China as Key Vulnerability in the U.S. Drug Supply Chain

Members of the Senate Special Committee on Aging convened last week to hear from witnesses on restoring trust in American-made medicines.

The hearing highlighted urgent concerns about America’s reliance on foreign nations, particularly China, for critical drug ingredients and finished medications.

Witnesses and lawmakers warned that this dependence is compromising patient safety, national security and supply-chain resilience.

As Senator Scott (R-FL) said in his opening remarks, “This isn’t just an economic issue; it’s a matter of national security… we can do better. We must do better.”

Throughout the discussion, members of the Committee and witnesses emphasized that the United States has become heavily dependent on China for pharmaceutical ingredients and chemical inputs, creating strategic, economic and security vulnerabilities.

They noted that China’s dominance, fueled by lower costs, government subsidies and broad control of global supply chains, gives it significant influence over the availability and quality of essential medicines in the United States.

This reliance, they argued, leaves the nation exposed to supply disruptions, geopolitical tensions and inconsistent manufacturing standards. To mitigate these risks, policymakers must prioritize onshoring manufacturing capacity to reduce the dependence on countries like China, while creating new models to expedite clinical trials – including expanding U.S. platform trial networks for cancer, rare diseases, and other high-need areas.

Beyond addressing these vulnerabilities, the hearing underscored a broader imperative: restoring trust in American-made medicines is both a strategic and moral imperative. By investing in domestic manufacturing, implementing policy reforms and prioritizing resilience over cost alone, the U.S. can rebuild a secure, reliable pharmaceutical supply chain and ensure that Americans have access to safe, high-quality medicines when they need them most.

Key Takeaways from the Hearing:

Tom Neely (Oxford Pharmaceuticals) argued that offshoring U.S. medication production has weakened the supply chain, allowing China and India to dominate through aggressive subsidies and price advantages.

Patrick Cashman (USAntibiotics, LLC) stated that most U.S. antibiotic production now relies on Chinese chemistry with Indian finishing.

Dr. Eric Edwards, MD, PhD (PHLOW-USA) urged leaders to create a durable, competitive and secure domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing base to restore national resilience.

“Pharmaceutical supply chain vulnerabilities are not inevitable,” Dr. Edwards said. “They are a product of choice. Together, we can choose to build a safer, more resilient and more self-reliant future for all Americans.”