Roche chairman flags concern over U.S., China protectionism

Key Takeaways

• Schwan highlighted that while Roche’s pharmaceuticals benefit from a tariff exemption agreement with the U.S., its diagnostics division remains vulnerable, particularly after an initial 150‑day pause and due to retaliatory Chinese tariffs that create a double tariff burden (investing.com).
• He labeled the situation of paying tariffs twice—as a U.S. net exporter hit by both U.S. and Chinese duties—as “absurd,” underscoring the severity of geopolitical trade tensions (investing.com).
• Despite these headwinds, Roche has no plans to spin off its diagnostics arm, and the company’s broader strategic initiatives—including a recent major U.S. investment drive—signal efforts to mitigate protectionist risks and reinforce operational resilience (investing.com).