Trump Vows Major Tariff on Pharmaceutical Imports to Force Manufacturing Back to U.S.
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday his intention to impose a “major” tariff on pharmaceutical imports, a move he said would bring drug manufacturing back to the United States and end what he called years of “unfair trade practices” by China and others.
Speaking at a National Republican Congressional Committee dinner, Trump declared, “We are going to be announcing very shortly a major tariff on pharmaceuticals.” He argued that the U.S. market’s size gives it leverage, asserting that once tariffs are imposed, companies “will leave China” and other countries because “they have to sell — most of their product is sold here.”
Trump sharply criticized previous administrations for allowing countries like China to gain advantages through what he described as “unjustified” and “exploitative” tariffs. He defended his trade policies, noting, “They all got rich because of tariffs… now, when we do it, it’s so terrible.” He added that a new 104% tariff on Chinese goods would take effect at midnight, saying it would remain in place until China agrees to a new trade agreement.
The US president expressed confidence in future negotiations: “I think they’ll make a deal at some point… China will. They want to make a deal. They really do.”
