Side Effects May Include Dependency on China

The US has sole-source dependence on Chinese pharmaceutical inputs for roughly 700 drugs, a weaponizable chokepoint akin to rare earths.

• Extreme single-source reliance: The US sources ~95% of ibuprofen imports and ~70% of acetaminophen imports from China; roughly 700 US drugs have sole-source dependence on a Chinese starting material.
• Fast, recent erosion: Domestic amoxicillin production went from nearly 100% to almost zero in just 12-15 years; the last US penicillin plant closed in 2004.

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