Overview

• The White House said branded or patented pharmaceuticals will face a 100% import duty from October 1 unless the manufacturer “is building” a U.S. plant, defined as projects that have broken ground or are under construction.
• New duties also include a 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture, and a 25% tariff on heavy trucks made outside the U.S.
• Analysts warn the medicine levy could drive up drug prices and raise costs for Medicare and Medicaid, with some reports noting prices for affected imports could effectively double.
• Drugmakers have accelerated U.S. investments, including Eli Lilly’s plans for multibillion-dollar plants in Texas and Virginia, though companies note new facilities can take years to become operational.
• Legal and implementation details remain unsettled as the Supreme Court prepares to weigh tariff authority next month, and Trump did not mention generics in the new action, which experts say could help avoid worsening drug shortages.