On Thursday, April 2, 2026, American President Donald Trump signed decrees introducing tariffs of up to 100% on some imported products. The aim is clear: Trump intends to pressure pharmaceutical companies to lower their prices and produce in the United States.
The measure excludes generic drugs and includes a transitional regime for companies building industrial sites, with limited duties of up to 20% during the construction phase to support their establishment.
In this pressure game, not all partners are treated equally. Pharmaceuticals from the European Union, Japan, South Korea, or Switzerland will be taxed at 15%, while those from the UK will face a 10% tariff as per agreements with Washington.
According to the Washington Post, thirteen laboratories have already agreed to revise their prices to avoid sanctions. Trump claims success with this strategy, stating, “No one has ever seen this. I managed to make other countries yield to the threat of tariffs.”
The central question remains: who will truly pay the bill? Many economists believe that these tariffs could be passed on to consumers, as the cost of drugs (and more broadly, life) remains a major concern for Americans.
In addition to the pharmaceutical industry, the administration has also altered regulations on steel, aluminum, and copper to limit certain optimization practices set to take effect starting next Monday.
