United States President Donald Trump on Friday announced a sweeping 100% tariff on all branded and patented pharmaceutical products starting October 1, 2025 — a move that could hit India’s pharma sector.
However, Trump carved out an exception: companies building or already constructing production facilities in the US will be exempt. “’IS BUILDING’ will be defined as breaking ground and/or under construction,” he clarified in a Truth Social post.
Industry leaders in India struck a cautious note. Sudarshan Jain, Secretary General of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, told ANI that the order applies only to patented or branded drugs, not generics, which make up the bulk of Indian exports to the US.
Trump also unveiled tariffs across other sectors — 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30% on upholstered furniture, and 25% on heavy trucks — measures that could further push up prices for American consumers already facing inflationary pressures.
The US imported nearly $233 billion worth of pharmaceutical products in 2024, and any sharp spike in medicine costs could become a hot political issue as healthcare remains a top concern for voters.
