Trump announces 100% tariff on imported pharmaceuticals, expands duties on furniture and heavy trucks

Trump announces 100% tariff on imports of branded or patented pharmaceuticals from October 1

US President Donald Trump announced that the country will impose a 100% tariff on imports of branded or patented pharmaceutical products starting October 1, unless the company is constructing a manufacturing plant.

“Starting October 1st, 2025, we will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any branded or patented Pharmaceutical Product, unless a Company IS BUILDING their Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant in America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He added, “There will, therefore, be no Tariff on these pharmaceutical products if construction has started."

The announcement also covers other imports. Trump said a 50% tariff will be applied to kitchen cabinets, 30% to upholstered furniture, and 25% to heavy trucks.

The new tariffs on kitchen, bathroom, and some furniture were because of huge levels of imports, which were hurting local manufacturers, Trump said.

"The reason for this is the large-scale 'FLOODING' of these products into the United States by other outside Countries," Trump said on Truth Social.

In a separate post, Trump announced a 25% tariff on “all 'Heavy (Big) Trucks' made in other parts of the world” to support U.S. manufacturers, including Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, and Mack Trucks. He said the tariffs serve multiple purposes, “but above all else, for National Security purposes.”

The president added that the new heavy-duty truck tariffs aim to protect domestic manufacturers from "unfair outside competition" and would benefit companies such as Paccar-owned Peterbilt and Kenworth, as well as Daimler Truck-owned Freightliner.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration initiated a probe into truck imports to "determine the effects on national security."

Impact on the Indian drugmakers

Trump's decision to impose a 100% tariff on imports of branded or patented pharmaceutical products from October 1 is expected to impact Indian drugmakers.

The US remains the largest market for Indian pharmaceutical companies, particularly in affordable generic medicines. In 2024, India exported $3.6 billion (₹31,626 crore) worth of pharmaceutical products to the US, followed by $3.7 billion (₹32,505 crore) in the first half of 2025 alone.

Companies like Dr Reddy's, Sun Pharma, Lupin, and Aurobindo have long benefitted from the US market’s demand for lower-cost generics.

Although the tariff is primarily targeted at branded and patented drugs, which are dominated by multinational firms, uncertainty remains over whether complex generics and specialty medicines from India could also be affected.