Trump teases stepwise tariff plan for pharma

• Trump previously threatened tariffs of up to 200%.

Driving the news: "On pharmaceuticals, we'll be putting an initially small tariff," Trump told CNBC.

• "But within one year, one-and-a-half years maximum, it's going to go to 150%, and then it's going to go to 250% because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," he said.
• An announcement is planned for as soon as this week, he said.

Catch up quick: A number of drugmakers, including Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Roche, have made commitments to build up more U.S. manufacturing capability. But experts say it can take years to build new plants and shift product lines.

• A PhRMA spokesperson wouldn't comment on Trump's latest remarks, but the group has said tariffs on medicines would be "counterproductive."

Of note: U.S. imports plunged again in June, largely due to a $9.6 billion decline in drug preparations, according to the new Census data.

• It was the third consecutive month U.S.-bound pharma shipments fell. The dropoff began in April after there was a massive surge in March over tariff fears.