Trump Threatens 200% Tariff on Imported Pharmaceuticals, Delays Immediate Action

Washington, D.C.  – President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 200% on pharmaceutical imports into the United States, signaling a major escalation in his push to onshore drug manufacturing.

Speaking during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump said the tariffs could be enacted “very soon,” though implementation would likely be delayed. “We’ll give them about a year, year and a half to get their act together,” he said, referencing drugmakers operating overseas.

“They’re going to be tariffs at a very high rate — like 200%,” Trump stated.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that more details will be shared by the end of the month, following the completion of a Section 232 national security review covering pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.

Industry Pushback and Market Response

Pharmaceutical stocks remained largely unchanged, as analysts pointed to the delayed implementation and past inconsistencies in tariff follow-through.

Major pharmaceutical firms, including Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and AbbVie, have warned that such levies could disrupt the drug supply chain, inflate healthcare costs, and deter future U.S. investments. The PhRMA lobby group reaffirmed its opposition, stating that tariffs on medicines would be “counterproductive.”

“Every dollar spent on tariffs is a dollar that cannot be invested in American manufacturing or future cures,” said Alex Schriver, PhRMA SVP of Public Affairs.

While Trump argues that the move will revitalize domestic drug production, critics caution that it could lead to shortages and higher prices for patients, at a time when the industry is already navigating regulatory and pricing pressures.