Trump Drops a Bombshell: 200% Tariffs on Imported Medicines Announced
Washington(The Uttam Hindu): US President Donald Trump has unveiled an ambitious plan to impose steep tariffs — as high as 200% or more — on imported medicines. The primary aim of this policy is to end the outsourcing of drug manufacturing and bring pharmaceutical production back to American soil.
According to a leading financial daily, the tariffs may take around 12–18 months to come into effect, giving pharmaceutical companies time to adjust to the drastic shift.
This move is expected to hit India the hardest, as the country is one of the world’s leading exporters of generic medicines. If enforced, Indian pharma manufacturers could face massive losses, severely impacting their export-driven business. India plays a crucial role in supplying affordable drugs to the US market, and the policy could alter trade dynamics between the two nations.
However, reports suggest that the Trump administration’s immediate focus may be on medicines and raw materials (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients – APIs) imported from China. Still, concerns loom large in India’s pharmaceutical industry, given that the US remains its biggest market.
Experts warn that while the policy may push drug manufacturing back to the US, it could also significantly increase medicine prices for American consumers. Meanwhile, Indian drugmakers and the government are closely monitoring the situation to assess its potential economic impact.