WASHINGTON — President Trump has promised to impose hefty import taxes on pharmaceuticals, a category of products he's largely spared in his trade war. For decades, imported medicine has mostly been allowed to enter the United States duty free.

However, U.S. and European leaders recently detailed a trade deal that includes a 15% tariff rate on some European goods brought into the United States, including pharmaceuticals. Trump is threatening duties of 200% more on drugs made elsewhere.

Trump has promised Americans he'll lower their drug costs. But imposing stiff pharmaceutical tariffs risks the opposite and could disrupt complex supply chains, drive cheap foreign-made generic drugs out of the U.S. market and create shortages.

The threat comes as Trump also pressures drugmakers to lower

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