Lunes 29 de septiembre del 2025

President Trump on September 25 announced on social media plans to impose steep tariffs on pharmaceuticals, kitchen cabinets, upholstered furniture, and heavy-duty trucks beginning October 1. Industry will need to await executive orders for more detailed information as the posts plainly relate to pending investigations under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. He announced:

• 25% tariffs on “all ‘Heavy (Big!) Trucks’ made in other parts of the World,” with no reference to truck parts, which were also in the scope of the same investigation;
• 50% tariffs on “all Kitchen Cabinets, Bathroom Vanities, and associated products” and “a 30% Tariff on Upholstered Furniture,” with no reference to imports of lumber, pulp, or other forestry products that the Commerce Department had indicated were within scope of the investigation; and
• 100% tariffs on “any branded or patented Pharmaceutical Product, unless a Company IS BUILDING their Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant in America. ‘IS BUILDING’ will be defined as, ‘breaking ground’ and/or ‘under construction.’” It is expected that such imports from the EU and UK would remain at the 15% rate agreed in their bilateral frameworks with the U.S.

The president’s allusion to exceptions for companies building domestic plants echoes his comments to semiconductor manufacturers. That Section 232 investigation is also still pending.

Unavailable Domestically: The move comes in the wake of a September 5 executive order that established Annex III, a list of product categories that could become eligible for reduced or zero tariffs for countries that enter into new framework agreements with the U.S. The list consists of “products that cannot be grown, mined, or naturally produced … in sufficient quantities in the United States to satisfy domestic demand” as well as a range of generic pharmaceuticals, inputs for the same, and aircraft parts.

Medical Consumables and Devices: Separately, the Chamber will prepare comments on the administration’s just-announced Section 232 investigation “to determine the effects on the national security of imports of personal protective equipment (PPE), medical consumables, and medical equipment including devices,” as stated in a Federal Register notice slated for publication on September 26. Members are encouraged to send initial input quickly, even in rough form, and advise staff if they wish to review a draft when it becomes available. Comments are expected to face an October 17 deadline.

Industrial Machinery and Robots: The Chamber is also considering comments on the administration’s Section 232 investigation “to determine the effects on the national security of imports of robotics and industrial machinery,” according to a separate Federal Register notice slated for publication on September 26. Members are encouraged to send initial input quickly. Comments are also expected to face an October 17 deadline.