Bayer/Monsanto Shielded from Roundup Cancer Lawsuits by US Supreme Court

The US Supreme Court issued a 7‑2 ruling that federal pesticide law preempts state‑law failure‑to‑warn claims, effectively blocking thousands of lawsuits alleging that Roundup’s glyphosate ingredient caused cancer. The decision upholds the EPA‑approved label and prevents states from imposing additional warnings, a defeat for claimants and a victory for Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018 and has paid roughly $10 billion to settle prior claims.

In the wake of the ruling, Bayer’s subsidiary Monsanto filed petitions with the US International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce seeking antidumping and countervailing duties on Chinese‑origin glyphosate, arguing that subsidised imports undercut the domestic market. The move provoked sharp criticism from US farmers and agricultural groups, who warned the tariffs would raise input costs and strain an already vulnerable agricultural economy.

The Environmental Protection Agency said it will continue its scientific review of glyphosate, maintaining that the chemical is unlikely to be carcinogenic when used according to label directions. Environmental activists and the “Make America Healthy Again” movement have denounced both the court’s decision and the EPA’s stance, calling for stricter regulation of the herbicide.