Health Care Newsletter

Trump unveils 100 percent tariff on branded pharmaceutical imports

by Joseph Choi - 04/02/26 7:28 PM ET

Link copied

by Joseph Choi - 04/02/26 7:28 PM ET

Link copied

NOW PLAYING

- Click in for more news from The Hill

{beacon}

Health Care

The Big Story

Trump unveils 100% tariff on branded pharmaceutical imports

After threatening to impose tariffs on drugmakers throughout 2025 to secure Most Favored Nation (MFN) agreements, President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order imposing tariffs on branded pharmaceuticals made outside the U.S.

“I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to impose a 100 percent ad valorem duty rate on the import of patented pharmaceuticals and associated pharmaceutical ingredients,” Trump’s executive order stated, citing the U.S.’s reliance on pharmaceutical imports as a cause for national security concerns.

The Section 232 tariffs enacted through this order are designated for national security concerns.

Some brand name drug manufacturers will fare better than others. Companies that have approved plans to start manufacturing facilities in the U.S. will face a 20 percent tariff instead.

Drugs coming from the European Union, Japan, South Korea or Switzerland and Liechtenstein will be subject to a 15 percent tariff, while drugs from the United Kingdom will face an unspecified “lower” rate subject to a U.S.-U.K. trade agreement.

The order also includes several exemptions. Tariffs will not be applied to generic drugs, orphan drugs or brand name drugs made by companies who entered into MFN agreements with the administration.

The pharmaceutical industry was swift to condemn Trump’s latest drug tariffs.

“Tariffs on cutting-edge medicines will increase costs and could jeopardize billions in U.S. investments announced in the last year. Every dollar spent on tariffs is a dollar that can’t be invested in communities across the country,” said Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of the pharmaceutical trade group PhRMA.

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, I’m Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

Essential Reads

How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:

Trump signs order imposing 100 percent tariff on brand name drugs

President Trump signed an executive order Thursday targeting imported brand name drugs with a 100 percent tariff, citing the U.S.’s “import reliance” as reason for the decision. “I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to impose a 100 percent ad valorem duty rate on the import of patented pharmaceuticals and associated pharmaceutical ingredients,” Trump’s executive order stated. …

Full Story

Sanders, Wyden demand hearings with health insurance CEOs

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) are calling on Republican committee leaders to hold hearings with the chief executives of top health insurers in the U.S. as they “continue to get rich” during a time when health care access and affordability are of top concern. Sanders and Wyden wrote to Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), chairs of the Senate Health and Finance committees respectively, …

Full Story

Chicago authorities warn of possible measles exposure at O’Hare

Officials from the Cook County Department of Public Health in Illinois warned Tuesday of possible exposure to measles from a contagious individual at O’Hare International Airport and two other locations. In a press release, the department said people may have been exposed to measles if they were in Terminal 5 at the airport between 10:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, March 24. People also may have been exposed Thursday, …

Full Story

In Other News

Branch out with a different read:

EPA proposes studying microplastics for potential drinking water limits

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to propose to study microplastics and pharmaceuticals in what could be the first step toward drinking water limits for these substances. The Trump administration is touting the move as a win for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, a subset of voters that is skeptical of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries — and has at times been critical of the Trump administration …

Full Story

Around the Nation

Local and state headlines on health care:

- Lawmakers, state officials scramble to help 450,000 New Yorkers set to lose health insurance (City & State New York)

HIV, AIDS infections up in Chicago after years of decline as cases rise among Latinos (WBEZ Chicago)

SoCal hospice owners bilked taxpayers