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Leaders say tariffs and border measures threaten life‑sciences talent, chip supply chains and R&D collaboration
Summary
At a Boston convening, governors and premiers warned that tariffs and border restrictions threaten the flow of researchers, students and critical components for biotech and semiconductor development; officials urged joint workforce training, decentralized clinical trials and chip‑manufacturing partnerships.
Governors and premiers at the Massachusetts State House warned that tariffs and constrained cross‑border mobility are disrupting the flow of talent and components central to the region's life‑sciences and advanced‑manufacturing clusters.
Why it matters: Massachusetts and neighboring states host global life‑sciences hubs and draw researchers, postdocs and skilled workers from Canada; semiconductors and microchips cited by Canadian ministers are critical inputs to regional technology and security priorities.
Key points from the session: Governor Healy said Massachusetts imports not only goods but also people who sustain its research institutions, naming roughly 2,400 individuals from Canada who study or work in the state annually and noting the role of foreign‑born founders in U.S. start‑ups. Minister Skee and other Canadian officials highlighted chip manufacturing projects in Bromont and urged deeper cooperation on chip production, IP and R&D to reduce Asian supply dependencies. Premier Holt pointed to decentralized clinical‑trial activity in New Brunswick as an example of cross‑border research collaboration that could be expanded. Attendees discussed joint workforce training, talent pipelines and temporary mobility arrangements to preserve research and manufacturing capacity.
Quotes: "There is such an important relationship between our international folks who come here to study here, to research here... and the fact is nearly half of the companies in America are started by folks who are foreign born," Governor Healy said. Minister Skee described collaboration in chip corridors as an example of "interdependency" and "shared fate" that can bolster regional manufacturing.
Ending: No immigration or visa policy changes were enacted; participants committed to pursue state‑ and province‑level education and workforce initiatives, deepen industry partnerships on chip and biotech manufacturing, and continue dialogue with federal authorities about maintaining researcher and student mobility.
