Trump’s unpredictable trade moves: 100% tariffs on pharma came just 12 hours after US trade official said none planned

US President Donald Trump - File Photo

The United States was once again reminded of the unpredictable nature of President Donald Trump’s policy moves when he announced sweeping new tariffs on a range of imports just hours after his own trade representative said no such measures were planned.

On Thursday, Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative, was in Kuala Lumpur attending a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Speaking to reporters, he made it clear that the administration’s focus was on ongoing negotiations and not on imposing additional tariffs. “What we are focused on now are the negotiations, not putting out rounds of tariffs,” Greer said, signaling a calmer and more measured approach to trade with key Asian partners.

However, just 12 hours later, Trump took to his social media accounts to announce a series of steep tariffs that immediately jolted global markets. Among the measures were a 100 percent duty on imported branded drugs, 25 percent tariffs on heavy-duty trucks, and 50 percent tariffs on kitchen cabinets. These measures are set to take effect from October 1.

“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,” the US President said in a post on Truth Social.

The new 100% tariff on any branded or patented pharmaceutical product will apply to all imports unless the company has already broken ground on building a manufacturing plant in the United States, Trump said.

For trade partners, the timing of the announcement sent a clear message that negotiations can be upended at any moment, regardless of assurances from official representatives. “What we are focused on now are the negotiations, not putting out rounds of tariffs,” Greer had said, but the tariffs quickly contradicted that position.

Despite ongoing negotiations, President Trump announced new tariffs, even though many issues from his earlier “reciprocal tariffs” announced in April remain unresolved. He did reach a deal with the European Union in July, but major Asian economies, India and China, have yet to agree to a trade arrangement.

The US did secure commitments from Japan and South Korea over the summer, promising $900 billion in combined investments in America, but both countries are still debating how to implement this plan.

Adding to the uncertainty, the legality of some of Trump’s tariffs is under review. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in November on whether the president overstepped his authority by using emergency economic powers to impose these global tariffs.