Americans are raising concerns following President Donald Trump’s latest remarks about imposing sweeping tariffs on the pharmaceutical sector. Speaking at a Republican fundraising gala on April 8, Trump hinted at bold changes to how the U.S. sources its medicines—sparking fears of a potential spike in drug prices.
Pharmaceutical products, he said, are being sold at dramatically inflated prices in the U.S. compared to other countries—even when manufactured in the same facilities. “Something that sells for $88 in London sells for $1,300 here, made in the same factory, by the same company. And that’s over. I told them all that’s over,” Trump declared.
Trump slams global pricing disparities
In his address, Trump criticized the pricing strategies of international pharmaceutical companies, alleging that firms agree to price caps abroad, only to charge Americans much more.
“They are made in other countries and you pay a number… pharmaceuticals, drugs and other things are going to get better,” he said. “Because we’re the big market, the advantage we have over everybody is that we’re the big market.”
Trump suggested that imposing tariffs would force companies to shift manufacturing back to the U.S., potentially correcting what he described as an unfair global pricing structure.
Experts warn of higher costs and supply chain risks
Despite the intended goal of onshoring pharmaceutical production, economists and healthcare analysts are warning that the tariffs may have unintended consequences—particularly for generic drugs and life-saving medications.
Citing a recent analysis by researchers from the University of Toronto, the Hertie School in Berlin, and the University of Pittsburgh, Forbes reported that roughly $3 billion worth of pharmaceuticals sold in the U.S. rely on Canadian manufacturing alone. Introducing tariffs could add an estimated $750 million to the cost burden.
Moreover, expanding the tariffs to include pharmaceutical imports from countries like China, India, and members of the European Union could “worsen the predicted effects,” potentially increasing healthcare costs and disrupting access to essential drugs.
How much could prices rise?
Diederik Stadig, a healthcare analyst at ING, projected that tariffs on all pharmaceutical imports could increase the price of generic drugs by up to $0.12 per pill—translating to roughly $42 more per person annually. More alarmingly, higher-cost medications such as those used in cancer treatment could rise by as much as $10,000.
According to Stadig’s estimates, 20% of the U.S.’s pharmaceutical imports come from Ireland, 10.7% from Germany, and 8.5% from Switzerland.
Other notable contributors include India (6.2%), Singapore (5.6%), and Japan (3.7%)—countries that could be directly affected if the tariffs are widely applied.
The path forward remains uncertain
As of now, the administration has not laid out a detailed policy or implementation timeline for the proposed tariffs, leaving industry leaders and consumers alike bracing for the potential fallout.
Whether this policy will lead to long-term benefits or short-term pain remains a pressing question—one that could have far-reaching implications for public health and the global pharmaceutical landscape.