Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jul 22: US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will impose steep tariffs on imported generic medicines to encourage domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The new tariff regime will come into effect from August 2028.
The move is expected to directly impact India, the largest exporter of generic medicines to the United States.
In a post on the social media platform Truth, Trump said that all generic medicines imported into the US will continue to attract zero tariffs for the next two years, effective from August 1, 2026. Thereafter, tariffs will be raised to 100% for one year, followed by an increase to 200%, he said.
Trump stated that the objective of the policy is to promote the manufacturing of generic medicines within the United States. "Protecting the interests of the American people is the goal," he said.
The policy is expected to deal a major blow to India, often referred to as the "Pharmacy of the World." According to a report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), India exported pharmaceutical products worth USD 25.8 billion in 2025, of which 38% (USD 9.7 billion) was shipped to the United States.
Generic medicines manufactured in India for the treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, infectious diseases, and mental health conditions are widely used across the United States.