🚨 Trump Plans Up to 200% Tariff on Imported Medicines: What It Means for You!

Washington, D.C. | July 8, 2025 –
In a bold move that could shake the global pharmaceutical industry, former President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose tariffs as high as 200% on imported medicines, saying the U.S. must bring drug manufacturing back home.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump said the decision to slap massive pharmaceutical tariffs is coming “very soon,” but added that the rollout will be delayed to give drugmakers time to prepare.

“They’re going to be tariffs at a very high rate, like 200%. But we’ll give people about a year, year and a half to get their act together,” Trump said during the session.

🧪 Drug Tariff Details Coming Soon

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that more specific details will be released by the end of the month, following the conclusion of ongoing reviews into pharmaceutical and semiconductor imports.

“The president will set his policies after the reports are finalized,” Lutnick told CNBC.

This move follows a Section 232 investigation launched in April, which reviews whether certain imports are a threat to national security — a legal route previously used to justify tariffs on steel and aluminum.

💊 Industry in Shock But Holding Steady

Despite the big announcement, pharmaceutical stocks stayed mostly flat, showing that the market is waiting to see if Trump follows through.

In a note to investors, Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger called the move “positive” in the short term because of the uncertainty over its actual implementation.

“Tariffs are not immediate, and it’s unclear whether they’ll happen at all,” Risinger said.

💸 Pharma Giants on Alert

Big players like Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and AbbVie are already investing more in U.S.-based drug production after decades of outsourcing to lower-cost countries.

However, many in the industry are pushing back, warning that such a drastic tariff hike could:

• Increase drug prices for American consumers

• Disrupt the global medicine supply chain

• Threaten investment in R&D and innovation

• Cause drug shortages

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the largest pharma lobbying group, issued a strong response.

“Every dollar spent on tariffs is a dollar not spent on American manufacturing or new cures,” said Alex Schriver, Senior VP of Public Affairs at PhRMA.

“We support U.S. manufacturing, but medicine tariffs will hurt—not help—that goal. Historically, medicines have been exempt from tariffs for good reason: they save lives and shouldn’t become costlier or harder to access.”

🇺🇸 Why Is Trump Targeting Pharma?

Trump has long criticized drug companies for relying heavily on foreign manufacturing, especially in countries like China and India. He argues that imposing a medicine import tax will force companies to bring jobs and production back to American soil — a key part of his “America First” agenda.

“We’ve got to bring medicine production back to the U.S.,” Trump said. “It’s a national security issue.”

🧭 What Happens Next?

All eyes are on the upcoming policy announcement later this month. While Trump’s comments have sent ripples across the pharmaceutical world, there is no guarantee that the full 200% tariff on imported pharmaceuticals will be implemented — or even enforced.

Until then, both the drug industry and consumers remain in wait-and-watch mode.