USTRx Act

Bill text noted — S. 5265 (USTRx Act). Here's the plain-English summary:

The USTRx Act would create a new "Chief Pharmaceutical Trade Negotiator" position within the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, responsible for negotiating and enforcing trade rules related to U.S. pharmaceutical products and pushing for full market access for U.S. drugmakers abroad. The bill also directs USTR to compile an annual list of "high income" countries (as defined by World Bank statistics) and publish a yearly report evaluating whether each country's drug-pricing and reimbursement policies are transparent, market-based, non-discriminatory, and consistent with U.S. trade agreements, or whether they unfairly limit U.S. pharmaceutical market access or innovation incentives.

The bill primarily affects U.S. trade policy toward wealthy foreign countries with government-set drug pricing systems, and it directly concerns the pharmaceutical industry, USTR, and Congress's trade oversight committees. If USTR determines a country's practices meet the bill's criteria, the law would require USTR to send Congress a response plan within 30 days, which could include opening a formal trade investigation under existing U.S. trade law.

The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 5, 2026, by Sen. Tim Sheehy with two cosponsors, and referred to the Committee on Finance. It has not yet received a committee vote, floor vote, or further action; committee consideration would be the next step before it could advance.

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