The United States will maintain zero tariffs on all imported generic medicines for a two-year grace period starting Aug. 1, 2026, before imposing a 100% duty from August 2028 and doubling it to 200% the following year, President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform.
The policy is designed to force generic drug manufacturing back to the United States by penalizing companies that fail to build domestic production facilities within the two-year window. Trump said the buffer period gives manufacturers time to relocate supply chains before the punitive tariffs take effect.
The tariff escalation represents one of the most aggressive trade measures targeting the pharmaceutical sector, with the 200% rate effectively pricing most foreign-made generics out of the U.S. market after 2029.