U.S. tariff policy shifts

A British Parliament research briefing says U.S. tariff policy has moved from broad threats to targeted duties aimed at specific industries and supply chains. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk) The House of Commons Library said the United States imposed a 25% tariff on steel, aluminium and derivative goods on March 12, 2025, and tied possible relief for some trading partners to supply-chain and market-access terms. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk) The same briefing said Washington has also announced tariffs of up to 100% in two newer areas: patented pharmaceutical products and ingredients, and foreign-made films. The pharmaceutical measure was announced on April 2, 2026, according to the White House. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk) (whitehouse.gov) That marks a shift from tariffs aimed mainly at finished goods, like cars or metals, to tariffs that can reach into production networks for medicines and industrial inputs. The White House said the pharmaceutical action covers patented drugs and ingredients and gives some companies 120 or 180 days before the tariffs take effect. (whitehouse.gov) Pharmaceuticals were already under formal review before the April 2026 tariff announcement. A Federal Register notice said the Commerce Department opened a Section 232 national-security investigation on April 1, 2025, covering finished drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients, key starting materials and derivative products. (federalregister.gov) Section 232 is the same legal tool the United States has used for metals and other sectors. A Congressional Research Service timeline said President Donald Trump invoked multiple tariff authorities after returning to office on January 20, 2025, including Section 232 actions that expanded during 2025. (congress.gov) For Britain, the House of Commons Library said the practical issue is no longer just the headline tariff rate. The briefing said tariff exemptions and lower rates are increasingly being negotiated alongside commitments on supply-chain security, domestic pricing and market access. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk) The White House cast the pharmaceutical tariffs as a national-security measure meant to push production back into the United States. Trade and life-sciences lawyers said the action reaches key inputs as well as finished products, making it relevant for manufacturers that rely on cross-border sourcing. (whitehouse.gov) (ropesgray.com) The result is a U.S. tariff policy that now mixes broad import barriers with industry-by-industry pressure points. The House of Commons Library’s briefing says that approach leaves sensitive sectors, especially medicines, more exposed to the next round of trade action. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk)