ALLERGAN CEO: The US is building a wall around itself, and making itself uncompetitive
His company scrapped its $160 billion merger with Pfize on Wednesday, following the announcement of new rules Treasury that look to have been designed almost specifically to stop Pfizer from benefitting from the merger.
"This administration and these types of policies hurt America's ability to compete on a global scale," CEO Brent Saunders said in an interview with CNBC.
He added that the US was effectively building a wall around itself, and that these kinds of measures undermined confidence in the rule of law in the US.
Saunders pointed out that Allergan, which is domiciled in Ireland, invests in the United States in the form of manufacturing, scientists, and research and development investments.
"Being inverted … allows us to more easily invest in the US than a US company," he said.
He added that his company pays taxes in the United States as well.
"With global companies like us, we look at the world - we look for certainty and rule of law... Do we need to start worrying about that in the greatest country in the world, the United States?" he said.
"I personally am an American, and am a patriot," he added.