U.S. Pharmaceutical Drug Imports from China

What We're Showing

This chart shows the share of U.S. pharmaceutical imports from China for four key drugs, based on the latest data from 2021.

The data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Commerce, accessed via the Coalition for a Prosperous America.

Key Takeaways

• About 90% of the prescription drugs consumed in the U.S. are imported from other countries. 
• China is a dominant supplier of several key over-the-counter drugs, including painkillers and antibiotics.
• Major pharmaceutical drugs imported from China include pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, for which China makes up 95% and 70% of U.S. imports, respectively.
• Penicillin, an important antibiotic for bacterial infections, is also primarily imported from China.