BUSINESS – President Donald Trump announced that, starting October 1, the United States will impose a 25 percent tariff on imported heavy-duty trucks. This move is part of a broader package of sweeping duties aimed at protecting U.S. industry and addressing national security concerns.
Alongside the truck tariff, Trump revealed plans for equally aggressive levies on other imports: 100 percent tariffs on branded pharmaceutical products, 50 percent duties on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, and 30 percent tariffs on upholstered furniture. The president stated that the drug tariffs would be waived for companies actively building manufacturing plants in the U.S.
The new duties mark a renewed escalation in the U.S. trade agenda. Trump described the tariffs as measures to counter “unfair outside competition” and to protect American manufacturers like Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, and Mack Trucks. The president further justified the truck tariff under the banner of national security, arguing that reliable domestic truck makers are critical to infrastructure and supply chains.
The pharmaceutical tariff, set at a full 100 percent, raised particular concern among health industry stakeholders and trade partners. According to Reuters, all new duties will take effect on October 1.
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Markets reacted immediately to the announcements. Shares of companies exposed to these sectors, especially in heavy trucking and pharmaceuticals, experienced volatility. In particular, Daimler Truck and Traton shares fell following the tariff news.
Legal and trade experts note that many of Trump’s recent tariff policies are vulnerable. Some are being challenged in the courts, and the Supreme Court is expected to review the legality of sweeping global tariffs later this year.
Observers also point out that existing trade agreements with partners like the European Union, Japan, and the United Kingdom may impose ceilings on tariff rates for certain goods such as pharmaceuticals. Thus, the new national security tariffs might not supersede agreed limits in those deals.
Analysts warn that while the tariff strategy is intended to bolster U.S. manufacturing, it could also drive inflation and increase costs for consumers, especially in sectors dependent on imports. The new levies come at a time of already elevated global uncertainty and inflationary pressures.
Trump’s latest tariff announcement underscores how import duties continue to be a central instrument in his economic and trade policy toolbox, blending industrial strategy with political leverage.
