President Donald Trump announced sweeping new import tariffs on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. The package includes a 100% tariff on branded and patented pharmaceuticals, a 25% tariff on imported heavy-duty trucks, 50% on kitchen cabinets/bath vanities, and 30% on upholstered furniture.
The duties take effect Oct. 1. Trump posted the plan on Truth Social and framed it as a push to move production to the U.S.
Drug tariffs and carve-outs
The 100% tariff targets branded/patented medicines. Generic drugs are exempt. The policy includes an exemption for companies that have “broken ground” on U.S. manufacturing, meaning firms actively building plants can avoid the duty. Several outlets reported the exemption language came via Trump’s Truth Social post.
Truck and home-goods duties. The 25% tariff on heavy-duty trucks lands alongside 30% on upholstered furniture and 50% on kitchen cabinets/vanities. The administration is tying the moves to national-security reviews under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, according to officials and reporting.
Who’s hit on trucks
The U.S. imports heavy trucks largely from Mexico, Canada, Japan and Germany, so manufacturers with USMCA-linked production footprints face new uncertainty. Shares of Daimler Truck and Traton fell after the announcement, while some U.S.-based producers ticked higher.
Global reaction and market moves. Asian and European pharma stocks wobbled on Friday trading after the drug tariff headline. Some majors stressed their U.S. buildouts could limit exposure. Roche pointed to a new North Carolina facility; Novartis flagged ongoing investments in U.S. sites.
What it means for prices and supply
Health economists and industry groups warn the drug tariff could lift U.S. healthcare costs and disrupt supply chains, while any truck price spike would ripple through logistics. Prior analyses cited risks to patient access and R&D if import costs jump. Trucking groups have previously said a 25% tariff-related hit could add ~$35,000 to the price of a new tractor in some cross-border scenarios, pressuring small carriers.
The White House has leaned on Section 232 probes for both pharmaceuticals and trucks, though analysts note overlaps with other emergency authorities and ongoing court fights involving Trump-era tariffs. A number of challenges are still moving through federal courts, with broader tariff authority slated for Supreme Court review this fall.
