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Everything (or almost everything) you need to know about importing drugs from Canada

The logic behind the idea is simple enough. But will Trump’s latest proposal actually save you money at the pharmacy counter? We’ve got answers.
Source: J. Scott Applewhite/AP

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s new plan to import cheaper drugs from Canada seems like a no-brainer. But like most things in health care, it’s complicated.

The logic is simple enough: Canadians buy the same drugs, made by the same manufacturers, but they get them at a much cheaper cost. So, says Trump, let’s take their drugs.

It’s also wildly popular: 80% of Americans said in a recent survey they support importing prescription drugs, making the idea one of the most well-liked drug pricing proposals currently being considered in Washington.

But the questions abound: Can Trump do this under existing law? Can Canada keep up with American demand? And can Trump get such an ambitious plan across the finish line before the 2020 election?

And then there’s the biggest concern of all: Is the Trump administration opening Americans up to dangerous,

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