Trump wants to equalize and lower drug prices. Could Canada be impacted? – National [Video]

U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a new effort to lower prescription drug prices for Americans that targets foreign nations — both for the lower prices they pay and the potential to import cheaper drugs from those countries.

Yet the federal government and policy experts say any potential impacts from the executive order signed this week — including supply shortages and higher prices — aren’t likely to hit Canada.

“I don’t think this is actually likely to be a direct threat against Canada,” said Michael Law, a professor at the University of British Columbia and the Canada Research Chair in access to medicines.

Trump’s order calls on the health department, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to broker new price tags for drugs over the next month.

If deals are not reached with the drugmakers, Kennedy will be tasked with developing a new rule that ties the price the U.S. pays for medications to lower prices paid by other countries.