The House Select Committee on China warned that the U.S. is increasingly dependent on China for both the raw materials used in generic drugs and the development of new therapies.
Roughly 90% of all U.S. prescriptions are generics, and 83 of the top 100 have no domestic source for key ingredients, according to a March 18 hearing led by Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich. One example: USAntibiotics in Tennessee is the last U.S. manufacturer of amoxicillin, while nearly all heparin processing occurs in China.
Lawmakers said the Chinese government has used subsidies and lax regulatory standards to drive Western competitors out of the market, creating a strategic vulnerability. If China restricted exports of active pharmaceutical ingredients, the committee said U.S. hospitals and pharmacies could face immediate shortages.
The committee also cited China’s rise in innovation. Chinese-origin molecules accounted for 48% of global pharmaceutical licensing deals in 2025, up from zero percent in 2020. At the same time, Chinese clinical trials have drawn scrutiny for ethical concerns, including studies that began treatment before patients were informed of their diagnosis.
Lawmakers warned the trend threatens both national security and future U.S. pharmaceutical capacity.
