Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump has announced that imported generic medicines will remain free of tariffs for two years from August 1, 2026, before facing duties of 100 per cent and later 200 per cent as part of his push to shift pharmaceutical production to the United States.
The announcement gives overseas generic drug manufacturers a two-year window to establish production facilities in the US or face steep tariffs on medicines shipped to the American market.
“Effective August 1st, 2026, all Generic Drugs being brought into the United States will continue to have a TARIFF of ZERO PERCENT for a two year period of time, after which the TARIFF will be raised to 100% for a one year period of time, and 200% thereafter,” Trump said in a social media post on July 21.
The policy could carry major implications for global pharmaceutical manufacturers that supply generic medicines to the US. Trump’s statement did not name any country or company and offered no details about how the tariff system would be administered.
Under the timeline announced by the president, generic drug imports would continue to enter the US without tariffs for two years after August 1. They would then face a 100 per cent tariff for one year, followed by a 200 per cent duty.
