AP Wire
  • Updated

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that could slap long-threatened pharmaceutical tariffs of up to 100% on some patented drugs from companies that don’t reach deals with his administration in the coming months. Companies that have signed a “most favored nation” pricing deal and are actively building facilities in the U.S. to onshore production of patented pharmaceuticals and their ingredients will have a 0% tariff. For those that don’t have a pricing deal but are building such projects in the U.S., a 20% tariff will apply but increase to 100% in four years. Companies still have months to negotiate before the 100% tariffs kick in. Also Thursday, Trump rolled out an update on his 50% tariffs on imported steel, aluminum and copper.

AP Wire
  • Updated

President Donald Trump used a swing through Ohio and Kentucky to push an economic message and attack fellow Republican Rep. Thomas Massie — even as the conflict in Iran threatened to overshadow all else. On Wednesday, Trump talked in Ohio about pressuring drugmakers to cut prices. He acknowledged that fighting involving Iran has shaken markets, but insisted he remains confident. At a later rally in Massie’s northern Kentucky district, Trump called Massie a “nutjob” and backed primary challenger Ed Gallrein. Trump also said he plans to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an attempt to lower gas prices. Massie says Trump’s endorsement is all his opponent has.