


The Trump White House says they’re locking in MAGA trade wins by cutting tariffs on grocer items and medications — but only if the drugmakers are putting serious money into U.S. factories.
This is coming after major deals cut with the UK, Japan, and plenty of other countries despite all the media denial that those deals would happen. That’s good news for companies like AbbVie, Bristol Myers, and Eli Lilly — all cranking out top drugs like Humira right here at home. It will also likely benefit makers of over-the-counter medications like Tylenol — okay maybe not Tylenol per se — Advil, Aleve, Benadryl, and Sudafed and others manufactured in the States.
The move comes amid a fresh round of bedwetting by DC Republican operatives over the GOP’s standing with voters on the issue of the economy.
One anonymous GOP hand-wringer told Axios, “We don’t want Democrats making campaign ads about $8 Lucky Charms and grandma unable to get prescription drugs because of shortages from the tariffs.” In other words, they’re afraid of an economic re-run version of the “pushing Grandma off the cliff” ad from back in 2012.
But instead of panicking, Trump already took action, of course.
RFK Jr. has also been taking swings at Big Pharma giants, too. Those companies recently made clear that one of their top three policy goals is is killing a discount program that keeps small rural (red state) hospitals alive. Trump going after drug prices and forcing more discounts sure looks like they’ll lose that battle, and he’ll lock in yet another win for the base. Kinda hard to sell killing discounts when the President’s slashing prices left and right.
A White House memo says tariffs will be lifted on “agricultural products not grown or produced in sufficient quantity in the United States to meet domestic demand.”
Translation for the Chickens Little: coffee stays cheap, chocolate stays Charlie Buckets-priced, and use of Zoomer staple avocado will remain cheap, safe, legal, and rare. Plus any drugmakers already manufacturing here, or are interested in expanding, they’ll benefit too.
So there you go. Bottom line: even the Trump haters — green hair, nose rings and all — get to cash in.