Trump Administration Pursues Bilateral Health Deals Over Global Pacts

Bilateral health agreements risk weakening global pandemic prevention efforts, experts warn.

The United States government is negotiating individual health agreements with dozens of nations rather than pursuing a unified international treaty. Public health specialists warn that this fragmented approach weakens worldwide pandemic prevention efforts. Meanwhile, the administration's new strategy faces potential scrutiny from a newly elected Democratic Congress.

• The approachThe administration favors bilateral deals with individual countries over a broad global accord.
• The concernSpecialists argue that scattered bilateral agreements leave major gaps in international disease defense.
• The oversightA newly elected Democratic Congress is expected to evaluate these shifting foreign aid priorities.