Azernews.Az

by Alimat Aliyeva

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to impose import tariffs of up to 100% on certain medicines produced by foreign pharmaceutical companies if they refuse to localize production in the United States, AzerNEWS reports.

The proposed measures are intended to partially replace earlier tariffs that were lifted by the U.S. Supreme Court in February. According to a statement published on the White House website, foreign drug manufacturers will be required to negotiate lower prices for prescription medications and commit to shifting part of their production to the U.S.

Companies that meet these conditions will face a reduced tariff of 20%, while those that fail to comply with any requirements could be subject to the full 100% duty. Large pharmaceutical firms are expected to comply within 120 days, while smaller companies will have 180 days to meet the new rules.

In addition, the administration is maintaining a 50% tariff on steel, aluminum, and copper, although some adjustments are предусмотрены: duties will be reduced to 25% for products with low metal content and completely eliminated for goods where metal makes up less than 15% of the composition.

The new tariff measures are scheduled to take effect on April 6.

Experts note that the initiative could significantly reshape global pharmaceutical supply chains, encouraging companies to invest in U.S.-based manufacturing. At the same time, there are concerns that such policies may lead to higher drug prices in the short term and increase trade tensions with key partners. However, supporters argue that the move could strengthen domestic production, job creation, and national healthcare security in the long run.