JERUSALEM, May 7 (Reuters) - Teva Pharmaceutical

Industries has a strong manufacturing footprint in the

United States that should enable it to avoid significant damage

from potential U.S. tariffs, chief executive Richard Francis

told Reuters on Wednesday.

Speaking after Teva issued first-quarter results,

Francis said the company has eight manufacturing plants in the

United States, and the company is not reliant on China.

"That puts us in a strong position," Francis said.

He also said that Europe needed drug pricing reform.

"If we're talking about innovation, I think there's really a

real need for the European markets to pay for the value that

these innovative medicines are bringing."

On generic drugs, he said Europe needed to think about

pricing since driving down prices significantly impacts the

ability to supply.

"That (pricing) conversation is the right conversation to

have right now," he said.