American President Donald Trump has announced plans to place tariffs on pharmaceutical imports. He was speaking while signing an executive order designed to boost drug companies’ manufacturing in the United States (US). However, exact tariff rates are yet to be specified. Trump has suggested as high as 200 percent.

US President said, “We don’t want to be buying our pharmaceuticals from other countries because if we’re in a war, we’re in a problem, we want to be able to make our own.” “We will permanently bring our medical supply chains back home. We will produce our medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and treatments right here in the United States,” he added. 

Trump has directed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to speed up approvals for domestic manufacturing facilities while promising more surprise inspections of overseas plants and raising inspection fees for foreign drug makers.

The Commerce Department launched a Section 232 investigation into pharmaceutical imports in April, paving the way for these tariffs

On April 2, 2025, Trump, in his original “Liberation Day” tariff announcement, said, “Pharma companies are going to come roaring back, they’re coming roaring back, they’re all coming back to our country, because if they don’t, they got a big tax to pay.”