Donald Trump announced a new wave of tariffs targeting pharmaceuticals and key industrial metals, marking the one-year anniversary of his administration’s original “Liberation Day” trade policy rollout.
The new measures include a 100% tariff on patented pharmaceutical ingredients and products, alongside expanded duties on steel, aluminum, and copper imports. These actions were implemented under Section 232 authorities, which allow the federal government to impose tariffs on imports deemed a threat to national security.
Under the updated policy, goods made primarily of steel, aluminum, or copper will face tariffs of up to 50%, while derivative products containing significant amounts of these metals will be subject to a 25% tariff. Certain industrial and electrical grid equipment will see reduced rates of 15% through 2027, aimed at supporting domestic infrastructure development.
The pharmaceutical sector is also a central focus of the new policy. In addition to the 100% tariff on some products, pharmaceuticals from select countries will face a 15% tariff, with lower rates applied to imports from the United Kingdom. The administration says these measures are intended to reduce reliance on foreign drug supply chains and encourage domestic production.
According to officials, companies that agree to pricing arrangements under “Most-Favored-Nation” (MFN) terms and commit to manufacturing within the United States may receive temporary exemptions from tariffs until the next presidential administration. Those that only commit to onshoring agreements without pricing provisions will face a reduced 20% tariff.
The policy follows a Section 232 investigation led by Howard Lutnick, which examined the national security implications of foreign dependence on critical materials and pharmaceutical supply chains.
The administration also clarified how tariffs will be calculated, emphasizing that duties will reflect the full value of imported goods rather than lower foreign pricing benchmarks. Additionally, products manufactured abroad using entirely American-sourced metals will face a lower 10% tariff, while items containing minimal amounts (15% or less) of these materials will be exempt from the metals tariffs altogether.
These new tariffs build on the broader trade strategy introduced on April 2, 2025 — dubbed “Liberation Day” — when the administration first imposed sweeping global tariffs. Officials say the latest اقدامات are designed to accelerate domestic manufacturing, strengthen supply chain resilience, and reduce dependence on foreign producers in strategic industries.
