"Don't let facts stand in the way of your irrationality."
Everything costs, but your point is valid, the administrative cost of such an action is negligable. I would be in favor of nothing more than this. Free Market don't you know? Kind of reminds me of how sports teams operate: When they want your money, it's about being a fan. About loyalty. About the home team. When they want to apply pressure, it's a business. Cold, hard, calculating business, emotion doesn't enter into things.
You can't have it both ways, you can't have unrestricted free marketeering, and have the government protect you.
I think the Brazilians are being good capitalists. Find an advantage, and apply pressure.
One has to wonder, if the pharmaceutical companies can sell at such discounted prices, how much are they making on drugs they sell here?
And we get the drug companies crying about large profits needed for R&D! They're worried about the public good? Bull$hit.
Other industries seem to operate in this environment. Let them deal with it on their own. If international dealings are too rough, stay home.
Do I have an axe to grind? Yes. This is a precursor. What happens when businesses start getting beat up in China? Should the government worry about it? No.
Do the businesses that leave worry about anything American other than American dollars? No.
You are a little confused at the difference between capitalism and Marxism. In capitalism, the pressure is, "I won't buy it if it is too expensive." In Marxism, the pressure is, "I will steal it if it is too expensive."
Brazil is just trying to nationalize the drug industry. The idiot drug companies should simply cut them off and develop their own drugs.
But CEOs always think they can negotiate with thugs.