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President Donald Trump says he plans to impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals "very shortly," in what could be the next phase of his sweeping overhaul of global trade. Supporters argue reducing America’s reliance on foreign suppliers is critical for national security, but others fear steep tariffs could drive up prices for patients. Pharmaceuticals were exempted from Trump’s package of reciprocal tariffs, most of which are now on pause for 90 days as the administration negotiates with targeted countries.The White House didn’t immediately respond to emailed questions about the size and scope of potential tariffs on pharmaceuticals. For now, it remains unclear when the import taxes could take effect and what products, if any, may be spared. The push is part of Trump’s effort to increase drug manufacturing on U.S. soil. "We realized during COVID that we don't make our drugs and our pharmaceuticals in this country,�� Trump said Wednesday. “The only thing that is going to bring them back is you say, ‘We have a barrier. You have to pay 50 percent or 100 percent or 200 percent.��"The drug industry trade group PhRMA declined our interview request but said in a statement that nearly two-thirds of medicines taken by U.S. patients are produced here. “We share President Trump’s goal of revitalizing American manufacturing,�� wrote PhRMA’s Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Alex Schriver. "We look forward to working with the administration on ways to ensure America remains the most attractive place in the world to discover and manufacture new treatments and cures.�� The Food and Drug Administration says that a majority of raw pharmaceutical ingredients are manufactured overseas, a growing trend in recent decades. Europe, China and India are major players, especially when it comes to generic drugs. “For some drugs that are important, like antibiotics, almost 100 percent is being done in India and China,�� said Henry Levy, president of life sciences and health care at Clarivate, which tracks industry trends. Levy said that drug prices are set through complex negotiations with various stakeholders, meaning potential consumer impacts from tariffs may take longer to materialize. "I think that this could have an impact on availability. I think that would have an impact on pricing next year. It would have a massive impact on profitability quickly,�� Levy said. Experts say increased manufacturing costs from tariffs could potentially be absorbed by drug makers or insurance companies. They may also be passed on in the form of higher premiums and copays. "One in three people cannot afford to fill their prescription drugs today,�� said Patients for Affordable Drugs Executive Director Merith Basey. "There is real concern, understandably, that these tariffs would increase costs for patients and make their lives much harder."A recent study examining drugs used in the United States that depend on Canadian manufacturing warned a potential 25% tariff could drive up costs by $750 million and significantly disrupt supply over the long term.Mina Tadrous, lead author and assistant professor with the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, said he supports President Trump’s mission of reducing dependency on countries like India and China. However, he urged the administration to pursue a more surgical solution. “This cross-the-board way of doing tariffs may not work. There are certain drugs that are way more important than others, and those are the ones we want to ensure are made inside the United States or, at minimum, made inside North America,�� Tadrous said.