Biotechnology: the new front in the technological war between the US and China and its implications for Spain

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Technological Geopolitics

The escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Beijing are now shifting from semiconductors to the biotechnology sector. This move, driven by national security concerns and a desire for economic dominance, is creating a new landscape of risks and opportunities for Spanish pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in international trade.

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The escalation of trade tensions between the administration of Donald Trump en Estados Unidos y China is opening a new battlefront: biotechnologyFollowing the semiconductor war, experts in economic geopolitics consulted by Empresa Exterior They point out that this sector, key to health and national security, is emerging as the next major battleground, with significant consequences for global supply chains and Spanish companies.

From chips to genes: the keys to the new conflict

Unlike the battle for microchip dominance, the conflict in the field of biotechnology has deeper implications that range from the health security even to the control of the population's genetic information. The struggle is not only for the pharmaceutical market, but also for leadership in areas such as... precision medicine, gene therapy, and synthetic biology, technologies that will define the economy and defense in the coming decades.

International analysts consulted by this publication indicate that the epicenter of the dispute lies in three fundamental areas: control of the genetic data, the dependence of supply chains on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and the race for the intellectual property of new therapies and vaccines.

Washington's strategy: national security and pharmaceutical reshoring

The President's Administration Donald Trump has identified the dependence on China in the pharmaceutical sector as a critical strategic vulnerability. The White House considers the massive control of genomic data by Chinese companies and the production of APIs within its territory to pose a risk to US national security.We are seeing a concerted effort to repatriate critical pharmaceutical production and to limit the capacity of Pekín to access sensitive US biotechnology through investments or collaborations"," notes an expert on transatlantic relations consulted by Empresa Exterior.

Direct impact on Spanish companies: Risks and Opportunities

For Spanish businesses, especially the powerful pharmaceutical sector and innovative biotech startups, this new geopolitical landscape presents a duality. On the one hand, there are risks of supply chain disruption and being caught in the regulatory crossfire. On the other, significant strategic opportunities are emerging.

• Risks: Spanish companies with key production or suppliers in China They could face disruptions, tariffs, or the need to reconfigure their value chains. Regulatory uncertainty could affect joint ventures and R&D collaborations.
• Opportunities: The strategy of 'friend-shoring' o 'reshoring' de Estados Unidos could position España and the Unión Europea as reliable and alternative partners to ChinaSpanish companies with high standards of quality and data protection can become preferred suppliers and partners for the North American market.

Comparative analysis of the biotechnology conflict and its effects in Spain.

Area of ​​Conflict	US position	China's position	Implications for Spain
Genetic Data	Restrict access to and transfer of data of US citizens to Chinese entities.	Leverage its vast population to create the world's largest genomic databases.	Opportunity for companies that guarantee data sovereignty and security under European regulations (GDPR).
Supply Chain (APIs)	Encourage national production and production in allied countries ('reshoring' / 'friend-shoring').	To maintain its dominant position as the world's leading producer.	Potential to attract investment and production of APIs, strengthening the Spanish pharmaceutical hub.
Intellectual Property (IP)	Increase surveillance and penalties against IP theft in biotechnology.	Promote internal innovation to reduce dependence on foreign patents.	The European IP protection framework becomes a trusted asset for international collaboration.

Key points and frequently asked questions about the US-China biotechnology conflict

How does this new technological war directly affect my exporting company in Spain?

It primarily affects three levels: the supply chainwhich must be audited to identify dependencies of China; the normative compliancesince new restrictions could arise on the export of technology or the import of products; and the market strategy, forcing them to consider diversifying into markets less exposed to conflict or positioning themselves as an alternative partner for EEUU.

Which Spanish sectors could benefit from this situation?

Mainly, the pharmaceutical sector, the manufacturers of active ingredients (APIs), the companies of biotechnological research and development (R&D)and the companies of diagnostics and medical equipment ('medtech')Those with strong intellectual property protection and European and American quality certifications will have a competitive advantage.

What specific protectionist measures could the Trump administration implement in the biotech sector?

Foreign trade experts consulted by Empresa Exterior They anticipate a package of measures similar to that seen in the technology sector: specific tariffs to Chinese biopharmaceutical products, inclusion of Chinese companies on restricted entity lists, a stricter scrutiny of investments Chinese women in American and European biotechnology companies, and export controls of technology and laboratory equipment considered critical.