Publications: Stephen Ezell

NIH and other federal agencies must adopt a more comprehensive framework for measuring scientific impact, one that captures industry outputs such as new drug development, industry investment in university research, the translation of discoveries into commercial and clinical outcomes, the depth of international scientific partnerships, and the strength of the biomedical talent pipeline.

Instead of copying other OECD countries in a “reference-price-race-to-the-bottom,” U.S. policy should instead encourage peer countries to appropriately value innovative medicines.

The era of free trade globalization is over. To replace it, the United States should lead a new class of binding deals with allies, with a dual objective of strengthening allied national economic power industries and weakening China’s.

China has utilized numerous illegitimate tools in pursuit of global leadership in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, including IP theft, forced labor, and stealing genetic information. This must be met with a swift and forceful response from U.S. policymakers.

China is becoming an increasingly capable competitor in the global pharmaceutical industry, with growing strengths at every level of the biopharmaceutical supply chain. Responding to this challenge will require a comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy, with strong cross-agency collaboration, to advance U.S. biopharmaceutical competitiveness.

OMB’s proposed rule to increase the productivity and success of the U.S. scientific research establishment is commendable. But the rule in its totality would introduce dangerous and counterproductive revisions to the Uniform Guidance that would drastically reshape the American scientific enterprise for the worse and impose severe and long-lasting economic damage.

China has become an increasingly capable competitor in the global biopharmaceutical industry. To remain competitive, the United States should double down on policies to ensure that it offers the world’s leading environment to support private sector life sciences innovation.

Boeing and Airbus have long dominated the global commercial aircraft industry in production and innovation. But the rise of COMAC—China’s government-created, mercantilist-fueled national champion—threatens the foundations of market-based commercial aviation.

The EU has an array of discriminatory policies that target major U.S. tech firms, a legitimate basis for action under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. U.S. policymakers should favor amicably negotiated solutions, but this tool is available as a last resort if necessary.

Country cases show that the Trump administration’s tariffs have had a paradoxical effect. They have given Washington short-term leverage in some bilateral negotiations, especially with countries seeking improved access to the U.S. market or deeper security and technology ties. But they have also accelerated a global search for optionality.