US President Donald Trump has announced fresh tariffs on a wide range of imports, marking a renewed wave of his trade war policies.
The measures, disclosed late Thursday on his Truth Social account, target pharmaceuticals, heavy-duty trucks, home renovation fixtures and furniture, and will take effect from October 1.
The decision introduces a 100 percent tariff on branded and patented pharmaceutical products not manufactured in the United States. The move has already drawn criticism from Australia, a major supplier of medicines to the US. According to trade data, Australia exported more than $1.3 billion worth of pharmaceutical goods to America in 2024. Australian health officials warned that the tariffs could drive up costs for American consumers while disrupting long-standing trade benefits between both countries.
Trump also set a 25 percent tariff on heavy trucks built outside the US. The administration said the action is tied to national security concerns, citing a Section 232 investigation launched earlier this year to review the effect of foreign-made trucks on the American market. The tariffs are intended to boost US truck makers such as Peterbilt, Kenworth, Mack Trucks and Freightliner. European rivals Volvo and Daimler, which own competing brands, saw their shares fall in after-hours trading following the announcement.
Home improvement products and furniture were also included in the new measures. The administration introduced a 50 percent tariff on imported kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and related products, as well as a 30 percent tariff on upholstered furniture. Government data shows that foreign goods make up more than half of all furniture sold in the United States, with Asian countries supplying most of the imports. The announcement caused stocks in American retailers like Wayfair and Williams Sonoma to drop sharply, as both companies depend heavily on overseas supplies.
The tariff increases are part of Trump’s wider strategy to expand domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports. His administration has repeatedly used Section 232, a provision of US trade law, to justify tariffs on grounds of national security. Previous actions included duties on goods from China, Canada, Mexico and other trading partners, often linked to issues such as drug trafficking and immigration.
Economists and businesses are now watching closely to see how the latest measures will affect inflation, given that higher tariffs could raise consumer prices across multiple sectors. The administration has already applied a baseline 10 percent tariff on most imports, with additional duties on countries where trade balances are skewed against the US.
It is not yet clear how the new tariffs, set to begin next week, will be integrated with the earlier trade measures already in force.