Overview
- The White House, which issued the decrees Thursday, set steep penalties on imported medicines and expanded metal duties to cover products that contain steel, aluminum, or copper.
- Drug levies can reach 100% on patented medicines, drop to 15% for partners with U.S. trade agreements such as the EU, Japan, and South Korea, and phase in over 120 to 180 days based on company size.
- Companies that pledge to build U.S. plants face a reduced 20% rate through the end of President Trump’s term, and firms that adopt most‑favored‑nation pricing and invest domestically can receive full exemptions.
- Metal rules take effect Monday and apply the existing 25% tariffs to the share of metal in finished goods to curb tariff workarounds, with USTR’s Jamieson Greer saying consumer prices should not rise.
- The moves follow the Supreme Court’s February ruling that struck down many 2025 surtaxes, after which the government set interim 10% tariffs through July, while sector‑specific duties remain in place as part of a broader protectionist push.