Overview

• Branded and patented pharmaceuticals will face a 100% import tariff unless the manufacturer has broken ground on a U.S. plant, while generics are exempt and EU-made drugs face a separate 15% levy.
• Analysts say most Indian drugmakers see limited near-term earnings impact because they export mainly generics, though Sun Pharma is more exposed due to its U.S. specialty and patented portfolio.
• Lawyers and trade experts warn key details remain unresolved, including how exemptions will be verified, whether an existing U.S. footprint suffices, and how brand-versus-generic distinctions will be enforced at the border.
• Companies are weighing shifts to U.S.-based manufacturing or CDMOs, but analysts estimate transferring production and meeting regulatory requirements could take 6–24 months and require significant capital.
• Global reactions highlight uncertainty from Singapore’s pharma exporters to U.S. community pharmacies, where owners caution prices for some patients could rise once the tariff takes effect.