Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche has unveiled plans to invest $50 billion in the United States over the next five years, a move expected to create 12,000 jobs. The Basel-based company, known for its extensive range of products including cancer treatments and the multiple sclerosis drug Ocrevus, aims to channel this investment into advanced research and development sites, along with new manufacturing facilities in states such as California, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
This announcement aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for increased foreign investment in the country. Recently, Trump introduced significant tariffs on imports, aiming to address the substantial U.S. trade deficit, although his administration later eased some of the more severe tariff plans. Initially, Swiss imports were poised to face tariffs as high as 31%, in contrast to the 20% imposed on goods from the European Union. Although Switzerland is not an EU member, it is bordered by four EU nations.
In early April, the introduction of these extensive tariffs caused fluctuations in world stock markets. Subsequently, a phone conversation between President Trump and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter reportedly centered on the tariff issue, during which she highlighted the significant role of Swiss companies in the U.S. economy. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. president announced a temporary halt on the stringent new tariffs for 90 days, leading to speculation in some Swiss media that Keller-Sutter’s intervention might have influenced this decision, although no confirmation was provided.
Roche’s statement emphasized that once the new and expanded manufacturing operations are operational, the company aims to export more medicines from the U.S. than it imports, without specifically mentioning tariffs. Roche CEO Thomas Schinecker remarked that the investments emphasize their long-standing commitment to research, development, and manufacturing in the United States. Currently, Roche employs 25,000 people across 15 research and development centers and 13 manufacturing sites in the U.S.
The planned investment will result in 1,000 new jobs at Roche and over 11,000 additional positions supporting new U.S. manufacturing capabilities, expanding its presence to 24 sites in eight states. Last year, Roche reported over 60 billion Swiss francs in global sales, with nearly 25 billion francs originating from its pharmaceutical division in the United States alone. The company’s share price has suffered an 18% decline in the past month, primarily following the U.S. tariff announcement in early April.
