Novartis ramps up US stockpiles to shield against potential tariffs

Natura sells Avon operations in six Central American countries to PDC Group for a symbolic US$1. [https://invezz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/natura-invezz.png] Novartis AG (NOVN.S) has significantly increased its stockpiles of pharmaceuticals in the United States and is positioning itself to withstand potential tariffs, Chief Executive Officer Vas Narasimhan said in a recent interview. The move comes amid growing concern over US trade measures that could affect imports from Switzerland and the broader pharmaceutical sector. Speaking to the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Narasimhan emphasised that the company’s current inventory in the US is sufficient to last until mid-2026. “We have significantly increased our stockpiles in the US, so they will certainly last until mid-2026,” he said, highlighting the company’s proactive approach in light of potential trade disruptions. CURRENT TARIFF LANDSCAPE AND TRADE DEALS Last month, the US slapped 39% tariffs on Switzerland, Japan and China, and pharmaceuticals are still exempt from such tariffs. However, the sector is following the results of an ongoing probe, which could lead to import tariffs for specific industries. The US secured a bilateral trade deal with the European Union…