Trump’s New Tariffs: 100% Drug Levy Looms, Truck and Cabinet Duties Reshape Global Trade

President Donald Trump has significantly expanded his administration’s tariff policies, introducing new levies on a range of imported goods including drugs, heavy-duty trucks, and kitchen and bathroom cabinets. These measures, some already in effect since early August 2025 and others, notably a 100% levy on branded drug imports, set to commence on October 1st, 2025, mark a key feature of his second term aimed at bolstering American manufacturing.

Using his Truth Social platform, President Trump justified the tariffs by citing a “large scale ‘FLOODING'” of these products into the United States, asserting the need to protect domestic industries from foreign competition.

Specifically, the White House has imposed a 25% import tax on all heavy-duty trucks and a 50% levy on kitchen and bathroom cabinets. The most stringent measure, a 100% tariff on branded or patented drug imports, will apply from October 1st unless companies establish manufacturing facilities within the US. This could significantly impact major pharmaceutical producers in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan, with the UK alone exporting over $6 billion worth of pharmaceutical products to the US last year.

Trump stated that the truck tariffs are designed to shield US manufacturers like Peterbilt and Mack Trucks from “unfair outside competition,” while the cabinet duties address high import levels detrimental to local producers. Additionally, a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture is slated to begin next week.

These aggressive trade policies, which have seen sweeping tariffs on over 90 countries come into effect since early August 2025, are part of the administration’s broader strategy to boost American jobs and manufacturing.

However, the moves have drawn sharp criticism from US businesses. The US Chamber of Commerce previously urged the White House against new tariffs, highlighting that many truck components are overwhelmingly sourced from allied nations like Mexico, Canada, Germany, Finland, and Japan. The organization warned that expecting domestic sourcing for these parts is “impractical” and would lead to increased industry costs.

Trade expert Deborah Elms from the Hinrich Foundation commented that while these new tariffs favor domestic producers, they are “terrible” for consumers due to likely price increases. She also suggested that these industry-specific import taxes could serve as a backup revenue stream, especially as Trump’s broader global tariffs face ongoing legal challenges.

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