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US President Donald Trump on Friday, September 26, announced steep new tariffs on imported drugs, furniture and heavy trucks, pitching the measures as support for US industry but drawing warnings that they could push up costs and fuel trade disputes. The measures, disclosed on Trump's social media platform Truth Social, will take effect from October 1, 2025. They include a 100 per cent duty on branded or patented pharmaceutical products unless the manufacturer is already building a plant in the United States, a 50 per cent tariff on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, a 30 per cent levy on upholstered furniture, and a 25 per cent duty on heavy trucks.

Trump said the action was necessary to curb what he described as unfair competition and the "flooding" of imported goods into the US market. He framed the tariffs as vital to national security and the health of domestic manufacturing.

"In order to protect our Great Heavy Truck Manufacturers from unfair outside competition, I will be imposing, as of October 1st, 2025, a 25 per cent Tariff on all Heavy (Big!) Trucks made in other parts of the World," he wrote, citing companies such as Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner and Mack Trucks.

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On furniture and fittings, Trump added: "We will be imposing a 50 per cent Tariff on all Kitchen Cabinets, Bathroom Vanities, and associated products. Additionally, we will be charging a 30 per cent Tariff on Upholstered Furniture."

The President insisted the tariffs would boost local investment and argued inflation was "under control". However, the US consumer price index has risen 2.9 per cent over the past year, adding to concerns that fresh duties could drive up costs for households and businesses.

Labour market figures also complicate Trump's claims. Since April, US manufacturers have cut around 42,000 jobs, while construction firms have shed 8,000 positions, suggesting tariffs have yet to deliver the employment gains he projects.

The latest move comes weeks after Trump expanded tariffs on other imports in August, underlining his continued reliance on trade barriers as a central economic policy.

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Ankit Kumar is a Senior Sub Editor at Zee Business. He covers international affairs, politics, climate change, business, finance and global elections. With experience across digital med ...LATEST NEWSBy accepting cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.