Chicago – January 18, 2026
Global drugmakers are ramping up U.S. manufacturing and stockpiling inventory as the Trump administration considers imposing a 100% tariff on imported branded and patented medicines.
Although enforcement is delayed for companies investing in U.S. manufacturing, the policy has already prompted fast-tracked projects, price cuts and direct-to-consumer sales.
Pfizer and AstraZeneca secured multi-year tariff exemptions through pricing deals and commitments to the new TrumpRx.gov platform. Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson and Merck have pledged billions to expand U.S. operations to avoid penalties.
