The U.S. government's planned announcement of potential tariffs on the pharmaceutical industry has sparked widespread concern in India.
Adding to the uncertainty, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that he will soon be announcing these tariffs, which could significantly impact the flow of affordable generic medicines.
Nearly half of all generic drugs in the U.S. originate from India, accounting for nine out of every ten prescriptions filled in the country.
India has approximately 700 facilities that meet the guidelines of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supplying drugs to U.S. consumers. Currently, the threat of U.S. tariffs looms over these manufacturers.
"Manufacturers from India will have to look for other avenues and we will have to focus on other countries because we are supplying to all of the world. One third of the medicines in the world are from India. So, yes it will be a balancing act for us also, we will have to look for new avenues," said Amit Bajaj, a drug manufacturer.
India currently imposes around 10 percent tariff on U.S. drugs, while the United States exempts Indian drugs from import duties. In response to the potential threat of reciprocal tariffs, the Indian pharmaceutical industry has suggested eliminating the import duty on U.S. pharmaceuticals.
"Since our import in medicines is not big and also these are critical drugs for rare diseases like cancer and all. So, even if you make a zero rate for all the medicines coming in India, it is going to help those patients in India as well," said Viranchi Shah, Immediate Past National President of Indian Drug Manufacturer Association.
The reciprocal tariff, set to take effect on April 2, is intended to boost domestic manufacturing. However, pharmaceutical companies argue that establishing plants in the United States would entail exorbitant costs.
Analysts predict that potential U.S. tariffs on Indian pharmaceutical exports could drive up drug costs and create access barriers for consumers.
Indian pharmaceuticals face uncertainty as U.S. tariff threat looms
The mainland will never tolerate any Taiwan secessionist activities and will deal a strong blow to Lai Ching-te's rampant provocative behaviors, said a China Media Group (CMG) commentary on Tuesday.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Tuesday started to conduct joint exercises around the Taiwan Island, with army, navy, air and rocket forces closing in on the island from multiple directions, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the theater command.
Shi said the drills serve as a stern warning and forceful deterrent against separatist forces seeking "Taiwan secession", and are a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China's sovereignty and national unity.
On the same day, Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the exercises serve as a resolute punishment for Lai Ching-te authorities' blatant "Taiwan secession" provocations, and a necessary action to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The PLA is taking thunderous actions to sternly warn Lai Ching-te that "Taiwan secession" is a dead end, and seeking secession will only lead to self-destruction.
The exercises have shown that the PLA has more and more tools and means to target Taiwan separatists, with advanced fighters and vessels such as J-10, Y-20, Z-10, H-6K, J-20, and Type 054A frigate able to deafen and blind the separatist forces. Lai Ching-te's reckless moves will only result in his own crushing defeat in front of the impregnable fortress of the PLA's overwhelming strength.
As long as the "Taiwan secession" provocations continue, the PLA will never stop fighting. Every time Lai Ching-te takes rampant provocative action, the PLA will take a further step to advance its deterrence and punishment.
Lai Ching-te has recently blatantly defined the mainland as a "hostile force abroad" and put forward the so-called "Lai 17 Articles", inciting confrontations and undermining the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait. It is imperative to target and punish him for his arrogant attitude and rampant behaviors to seek secession.
The PLA drills, in which multiple ships and aircraft will get close to the Taiwan Island, and conduct sea-air combat-readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive control, assault on maritime and ground targets, and blockade of key areas and sea lanes, are aimed at completely shattering Lai Ching-te authorities' fantasy of seeking "Taiwan secession" by force with foreign support, making it unable to bluff and deceive the people on the island.
Taiwan belongs to all the Chinese people. The PLA is always ready for fighting, can fight at any time, and will win if it fights. It aims to target Taiwan secessionist activities, by no means the ordinary Taiwan compatriots.
It is hoped that the compatriots in Taiwan will stand on the right side of history and work with their compatriots on the mainland to firmly oppose Taiwan secessionist forces and external interference, protect the common home of the Chinese nation, and create a bright future of national reunification and rejuvenation.
Mainland never tolerate any Taiwan secessionist activities
