Trump Signs Order To Cut Tariffs On Metals, Pharma; Zero Import Duties For Aligned Partners

Last Updated:September 06, 2025, 22:32 IST

The order allows for tariff cuts on more than 45 categories of goods, including nickel, gold, and certain chemical compounds used in medicines

US President Donald Trump. (File photo)

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to reduce tariffs on a range of metals and pharmaceutical products, while offering zero import duties to countries that have struck trade agreements with the US. The new exemptions are set to take effect from Monday.

The order allows for tariff cuts on more than 45 categories of goods, including nickel, gold, and certain chemical compounds used in medicines. It targets products that cannot be grown or produced in sufficient quantities within the US, Reuters reported.

The move is part of Trump’s wider effort to reshape global trade, reduce the US trade deficit, and push other countries to agree to fairer trade deals.

The executive order applies mainly to “aligned partners" — nations that have reached reciprocal trade agreements with the US. These countries will benefit from zero import tariffs on key industrial and pharmaceutical goods.

According to the order, the extent of tariff reductions will depend on the value and scope of the partner country’s commitments to the US, ensuring that any benefits align with American national interests.

The exemptions include products such as graphite, which is essential for making stainless steel and electric vehicle batteries, as well as neodymium magnets, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and various forms of gold, including bullion and powders. These goods are important imports for industries like manufacturing, technology, and medicine.

The order also addresses pharmaceutical components, including generic drug compounds like lidocaine and diagnostic reagents, helping to ease costs on medicines and medical supplies.

A White House official added that the order also introduces exemptions for certain agricultural products, aircraft parts, and non-patented pharmaceutical articles.

Furthermore, this new policy allows the US Trade Representative, Commerce Department, and customs officials to waive tariffs automatically for covered imports from countries with reciprocal trade deals, removing the need for separate executive orders in each case.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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