Minister Tajani met with European Commissioner for Health Várhelyi: the Hormuz crisis is also affecting the export and transport of medicines

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met today with the European Commissioner for Health, Olivér Várhelyi. The meeting focused on the consequences of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on trade in the sector, the challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector linked to tariffs, and phytosanitary controls on products imported into the EU from third countries.

Minister Tajani emphasised that the pharmaceutical sector is a key driver of Italian exports, expressing concern about the impact of the Hormuz crisis on exports, particularly to Gulf markets, a major destination for our pharmaceutical products. In 2025, Italy exported pharmaceuticals worth a total of €69.2 billion (+28.5% on 2024), accounting for 10.8% of national exports. Italy ranks 7th among the world's leading exporters in the sector.

Minister Tajani and Commissioner Várhelyi also discussed possible EU measures in response to the logistical challenges caused by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, with an additional reduction in air transport capacity estimated at between 4% and 12%, which affects pharmaceutical supply chains, delivery times, costs and predictability.

Regarding US tariffs on pharmaceutical products, the Foreign Minister emphasised the expectation that the sector would continue to benefit from the treatment set out in last August's EU-US Joint Statement. Minister Tajani also highlighted the importance of the market opening measures provided for in the EU's free trade agreements with Mercosur, India, Australia and Indonesia. In this regard, the Minister reaffirmed that trade policy aims to strengthen the EU's leading position in the global pharmaceutical sector, mitigating strategic dependencies and ensuring access to essential medicines.