U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a dramatic escalation in his administration’s trade policy on Tuesday, revealing plans to impose a 50% tariff on copper imports and consider imposing levies as high as 200% on pharmaceutical products.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Trump indicated that an official announcement concerning the new tariffs would be made “very soon,” although he did not provide a firm timetable for their rollout.
Trump said pharmaceutical importers would be granted a minimum of one year to adjust their business operations before these high tariffs take effect, ensuring the industry has time to make necessary supply chain adjustments.
These announcements follow a series of Section 232 investigations the Trump administration launched earlier in 2025, targeting imports of copper, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and semiconductors. Such inquiries have frequently served as a prelude to sector-specific tariffs, as seen earlier this year when 50% duties were placed on aluminum and steel.
During his second term, Trump has repeatedly leaned on tariffs as a tool to curb imports and promote domestic industry. Notably, he previously enacted a 25% tariff targeting cars and auto parts manufactured outside the United States.
In a related development, Trump made it clear on Tuesday that the Aug. 1 implementation date for these new tariffs would not be postponed. The president’s hardline stance is pressuring foreign governments to quickly negotiate agreements with Washington in hopes of reducing the severity of the incoming duties. With only a few weeks remaining, trade partners are under intensified pressure to broker deals before the new tariffs come into force.
