Trump Tariffs May Hit India Hard: 200% on Medicines, 50% on Copper

Last Updated Jul - 09 - 2025, 04:16 PM | Source : Fela News

Trump’s latest tariff policy could severely impact India with proposed 200% duty on pharmaceuticals and 50% on copper posing threats to exports, currency stabil

Former U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive business policy is once again in the headlines, and this time India may have to face a critical impact. According to recent reports, Trump has proposed to impose 200% tariff (duty) on drug exports from other BRICS countries including India and 50% on copper (copper) imports.

If this proposal applies, India's strong pharmaceutical sector may suffer a huge shock. In just 2024–25, India exported medicines worth about $ 10 billion to the US, making it a major pharmaceutical supplier in the US. This 200% tariff will not only make Indian drugs extremely expensive in the American market, but will also force the buyers there to move to other countries.

India's copper exports, which are around $ 360 million to the US, will also be affected by this tariff. Although India's domestic industry may tolerate this shock to some extent, the immediate generated trade imbalance can affect revenue.

Increasing this pressure further, Trump reportedly threatened to impose a similar 10% tariff on all BRICS countries, making confidence in global trade partnerships even more weak. Currency analysts say the Indian rupee is already feeling this pressure, and is expected to fall from 85.74 to 85.78 per dollar, which is a sign of growing economic stress.

Trump’s message is clear: either renegotiate trade terms on his schedule or face steep levies. So far, only a few countries like the U.K. and Vietnam have reached preliminary deals to avoid the August 1 deadline.

While India is still in talks with U.S. officials, time is running out. If no agreement is reached soon, the consequences could ripple across sectors, from pharma to mining to foreign exchange markets.

For now, the world watches closely as Trump’s tariff diplomacy raises the stakes again threatening to redraw global trade lines and reshape India’s export-driven industries.