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U.S. Launches Tariff Probes Into Chip and Pharmaceutical Imports
KEY POINTS
- Probes target reliance on foreign chip and drug supply
- President Trump states plans to soon announce “a major tariff on pharmaceuticals”.
- Health systems use SRS to calculate tariff exposure for the items they buy.
The Trump administration has initiated investigations into chip and pharmaceutical imports to evaluate supply chain risks and support domestic manufacturing.
On April 1, the Trump administration launched new investigations into imports of computer chips, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and pharmaceutical products. Officially announced on April 14, 2025, in notices published by the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Federal Register, the probes aim to evaluate the national security risks of U.S. dependence on foreign supply chains for these essential goods.
According to the administration, the semiconductor investigation will examine every step of the chip supply chain—from raw materials and fabrication to assembly and packaging. Commerce officials will evaluate whether U.S. chip production can satisfy domestic demand, how reliant the country is on overseas manufacturing, and how foreign subsidies and overcapacity affect U.S. competitiveness.
The pharmaceutical probe “includes both finished generic and non-generic drug products, medical countermeasures, critical inputs such as active pharmaceutical ingredients and key starting materials, and derivative products of those items.” Trump reaffirmed his intent to impose tariffs on imported drugs, stating last week that he plans to soon announce “a major tariff on pharmaceuticals”. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, emphasized that these targeted tariffs are not open to negotiation, asserting, “We need to make medicine in this country. We need to make semiconductors.”
Healthcare executives face challenges estimating their exposure to increased costs from tariffs for their health system. Any health system tailor SRS to their suppliers and items in order to assess exposure to tariffs and other risks, gain supply chain transparency, and move from reactive to proactive risk mitigation. Contact SRS Support (support@supplyrisk.com).
For more information, see:
The Associated Press, US moves ahead on tariffs with investigations into computer chips and pharmaceuticals, April 14
Manufacturing Dive, US launches probe that could set stage for pharma tariffs, April 14
Supply Chain Dive, Trump says ‘major’ tariffs coming on pharmaceuticals, April 10
Supply Chain Dive, Trump’s tariffs spare various chemicals, April 14
The Wall Street Journal, Trump Opened Pharmaceutical, Semiconductor Tariff Probes April 1, April 15
Supply Risk Solutions, Supply Chains Upended by Historic Tariffs, April 3
Supply Risk Solutions, Manufacturers Plan to Pass Tariff Costs on to Their Customers, April 1
Supply Risk Solutions, Impact of Upcoming Tariffs on Healthcare Sourcing, March 11
Supply Risk Solutions, Trump’s Partial Tariff Exemptions Leave Majority of Canada-Mexico Duties in Place, March 7
Supply Risk Solutions, U.S. Tariffs on Canada and Mexico Take Effect, March 4
Supply Risk Solutions, U.S. Unveils New Tariff Plans, February 28
Supply Risk Solutions, Trump Confirms Canada and Mexico Tariffs Will Take Effect on March 4, February 25
Supply Risk Solutions, Trump Proposes 25% Tariffs on Cars, Chips, Pharma Products, February 20
Supply Risk Solutions, China Counters U.S. Tariffs with Targeted Tariffs, Export Controls, and Investigations, February 4
Supply Risk Solutions, Trump Delays Tariffs on Mexico and Canada, February 3
Supply Risk Solutions, U.S. to Impose Tariffs on Key Trading Partners Feb. 1, February 1
Supply Risk Solutions, Trump’s Tariff Policies Spark Global Uncertainty, January 27
Supply Risk Solutions, Trump Proposes 25% Tariffs on Canada and Mexico Starting February 1, January 21
Supply Risk Solutions, Tariff Planning Requires Product Transparency, January 13
Supply Risk Solutions, U.S. Tariff Plans Bring Urgency to Knowing Product Manufacturing Locations, December 2
Supply Risk Solutions, Tariffs Push Manufacturers to Rethink Supply Chain Strategies, November 15
Supply Risk Solutions, Tariffs Spur Urgency to Understand Product Manufacturing Locations, November 11
Supply Risk Solutions, List the Products You Buy That Are Subject to China Import Tariffs, October 28
White & Case, United States Finalizes Section 301 Tariff Increases on Imports from China, September 17
