According to Trump, pharmaceuticals could finally reach up to 250%

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA, August 3, 2025.

Ken Cedeno | Reuters

President Donald Trump told CNBC's “Squawk Box” on Tuesday that planned tariffs for pharmaceuticals that were imported into the USA could finally reach up to 250%, the highest rate he has threatened so far.

He said he would initially impose pharmaceuticals a “small tariff”, but then “maximum” in one to one and a half year, he will increase this rate to 150% and then to 250%.

The president repeatedly threatened and then changed the course for tariff suggestions. So there is no guarantee that he will finally set pharmaceutical tariffs to 250%. At the beginning of July, Trump threatened 200% tariffs on pharmaceuticals.

Read more from CNBC's interview with President Donald Trump

The Trump administration in April initiated a so-called examination of § 232 in pharmaceutical products. This is a legal authority that enables the Minister of Commerce to examine the effects of imports on national security.

The customs duties are the president's offer to make medicinal products to bring production operations in the United States to the United States when the production of domestic medication has shrunk dramatically in recent decades. In the past six months, companies may Eli Lilly And Johnson & Johnson have announced new US investments to build good will with the President.

“We want pharmaceuticals to be manufactured in our country,” Trump told CNBC.

The planned taxes would fulfill a blow to the pharmaceutical industry that has warned that the tariffs increase the costs, deter investments in the USA and disturb the supply chain for medicines, which endangers patients. The drug manufacturers are already navigating the consequences of Trump's drug price guidelines, which they threaten to invest in research and development for both their extraction and their ability.

This includes Trump's executive order in May, which revives a controversial plan, the “most preferred nation” policy, which aims to reduce the drug costs by the prices of some medicines in the USA are associated with the considerably lower reasons abroad.

On Tuesday, Trump said CNBC that “he” called “the” most preferred nations “and that it will have” enormous effects on the price of medicine “. But Trump did not officially implement any changes to the Executive Order.

Trump sent 17 drug manufacturers letters last week, who asked them to oblige steps by September 29 to reduce the US drug prices. This also includes approval that your complete portfolio of existing medicines is made available for each individual Medicaid patient at the lowest price.

Some pharmaceutical companies have announced that they are checking the letters.