Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Netflix Nearing Major Deal to Acquire Warner Bros Discovery Assets 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
GM Issues Recall for 2026 Chevrolet Silverado Trucks Over Missing Owner Manuals 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
Trump Administration to Secure Equity Stake in Pat Gelsinger’s XLight Startup 
Wikipedia Pushes for AI Licensing Deals as Jimmy Wales Calls for Fair Compensation 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
Airbus Faces Pressure After November Deliveries Dip Amid Industrial Setback 
Magnum Audit Flags Governance Issues at Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Ahead of Spin-Off 
Australia Progresses AUKUS Review as U.S. Affirms Strong Support 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
IKEA Launches First New Zealand Store, Marking Expansion Into Its 64th Global Market 
Microchip Technology Boosts Q3 Outlook on Strong Bookings Momentum 
President Donald Trump has announced a new agreement with UK-based pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, following a similar deal with Pfizer, aimed at cutting prescription drug prices in the United States. Under the pact, AstraZeneca will provide certain medicines to the U.S. Medicaid health program at discounted rates in exchange for relief from import tariffs, marking another step in the administration’s push to lower healthcare costs.
The deal forms part of the White House’s broader strategy to pressure major drugmakers to align U.S. prices with those in other developed nations, where patients often pay nearly three times less. In July, Trump sent letters to 17 leading pharmaceutical companies urging them to reduce prices or face steep tariffs. AstraZeneca and Pfizer are the first to comply, setting the stage for future negotiations.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot revealed that the company will offer select drugs at up to 80% off their list prices through the upcoming TrumpRx online platform. In return, the firm will receive a three-year tariff exemption to support its plan to localize more of its production in the U.S. Soriot emphasized AstraZeneca’s growing American footprint, noting a $50 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and R&D by 2030, including a massive new site in Virginia.
While the initiative may ease costs for Medicaid, experts remain skeptical about its broader impact. Northwestern University professor Craig Garthwaite noted that Medicaid already benefits from the nation’s lowest drug prices, suggesting limited savings. Boston University’s Rena Conti added that while the agreement benefits pharmaceutical firms, it offers little relief to Americans struggling with high out-of-pocket costs.
AstraZeneca’s latest moves reflect its effort to strengthen ties with Washington while expanding U.S. operations, including plans to list its shares on U.S. markets and sell some drugs directly to cash-paying patients at significant discounts.
