Washington: US President Donald Trump decided to implement new tariffs on imported pharmaceutical products and critical metals to strengthen national security and domestic supply chains. The US administration implemented a 100% tariff on imported patented pharmaceutical products and ingredients, as stated by the White House on Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, this tariff rate was reduced to 15% for pharmaceutical imports originating from the EU, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Pharmaceutical companies faced a 20% tariff if they only signed domestic manufacturing agreements with the government. Officials exempted generic pharmaceuticals, biosimilars, and orphan drugs from these immediate trade measures.

In a parallel move, the administration introduced a flat 50% tariff on articles made entirely or almost entirely of steel, aluminum, and copper. Derivative articles substantially containing these three strategic metals received a flat 25% import penalty. The government applied a temporary 15% tariff on specific metal-intensive industrial and electrical grid equipment until 2027.

Foreign-manufactured goods made exclusively with American metals qualified for a reduced 10% tariff rate. Products containing 15% or less of steel, aluminum, or copper completely escaped these new trade tariffs.