Finance
Bayer US Head Says Tariffs Will Not Affect Its 2026 Forecasts
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 7, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 7, 2026
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Bayer’s U.S. leadership signals that the company’s robust 2026 EBITDA and sales guidance—already accounting for anticipated tariffs—remains unchanged despite newly announced U.S. tariffs on imported branded pharmaceuticals.
Bayer Remains Confident 2026 Forecasts Unaffected by US Pharmaceutical Tariffs
Bayer's Response to US Pharmaceutical Tariffs and 2026 Financial Outlook
By Michael Erman
Bayer's Position on Tariffs and Financial Guidance
NEW YORK, April 7 (Reuters) - A top Bayer AG executive said on Tuesday the German drugmaking and crop science company saw no need to adjust its 2026 forecasts because of tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals announced by the U.S. government last week.
"We feel that we've appropriately anticipated tariffs as we think about our 2026 guidance," Bayer Pharmaceuticals Chief Operating Officer and Bayer U.S. President Sebastian Guth told Reuters.
US-EU Trade Deal and Tariff Implications
Guth said Bayer was particularly comfortable with its forecast as the U.S. has committed to honoring the trade deal it signed with the European Union last year that caps tariffs on most goods from those countries - including medicines - at 15%.
Bayer's 2026 EBITDA Forecasts
In March, Bayer said it expects 2026 EBITDA before special items of 9.6 billion to 10.1 billion euros, compared with EBITDA before special items of 9.669 billion euros in 2025.
US Tariff Policy and Industry Impact
Executive Order on Pharmaceutical Tariffs
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week imposing tariffs on branded pharmaceuticals imported into the U.S. unless manufacturers agree to government drug pricing deals or commit to making their products domestically.
The tariffs are scheduled to begin for most companies in September.
Exemptions and Bayer's Position
Sixteen of the world's biggest drugmakers have signed deals with the U.S. government that exempt billions of dollars' worth of drugs from tariffs, but Bayer was not initially invited to the table. Guth declined to comment on whether the company has spoken with the Trump administration about avoiding the fees.
International Trade Agreements and Future Outlook
UK-US Pharmaceutical Trade Deal
Britain has also finalized a U.S.-UK pharmaceutical trade deal, setting out tariff-free access for UK-made medicines to the U.S. in return for paying higher prices for new medicines.
Long-Term Spending Commitments
Under the deal, Britain pledged to increase medicines spending from 0.3% of GDP to 0.35% by 2028 and 0.6% by 2035. Guth flagged that deal as a blueprint for how wealthy countries around the world can revisit changes to their pricing structures.
Industry Expectations for Change
"There's an acknowledgment that it isn't going to happen overnight, but will happen over time," Guth said.
(Reporting by Michael ErmanEditing by Rod Nickel)
Key Takeaways
- •Bayer anticipates 2026 EBITDA before special items of €9.6–10.1 billion and stable sales of €45–47 billion on a currency-adjusted basis, unchanged by tariff developments (bayer.com).
- •The U.S. is imposing up to 100% tariffs on branded pharmaceutical imports under Section 232, with a 15% cap for EU-origin products under existing trade frameworks—tariffs Bayer says it has already baked into its guidance (whitehouse.gov).
- •The U.S.–UK pharma deal offers zero tariffs on UK-made medicines in exchange for increased drug spending—cited by Bayer as a model for wealthier nations adapting pricing strategies over time (apnews.com).
References
- Bayer delivers upgraded 2025 ambition, projects solid 2026, focused on strategic priorities
- Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Bolsters National Security and Strengthens U.S. Supply Chains by Imposing Tariffs on Patented Pharmaceutical Products – The White House
- UK will increase its spending on medicine under a zero-tariff deal with the US
Frequently Asked Questions about Bayer US head says tariffs will not affect its 2026 forecasts
1Will US tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals impact Bayer's 2026 outlook?
No, Bayer's US President said the company does not expect the tariffs to affect its 2026 financial forecasts.
2What is Bayer’s projected EBITDA for 2026?
Bayer expects 2026 EBITDA before special items of 9.6 billion to 10.1 billion euros.
3Are Bayer’s medicines exempt from new US import tariffs?
Bayer was not initially included in exemptions but remains confident based on existing trade deals.
4What trade deals impact pharmaceutical tariffs for Bayer?
The US-EU trade deal caps tariffs on medicines at 15%, providing some protection for Bayer.
