The United States has exempted select speciality drugs from India and about 19 other countries from a proposed 100 per cent import tariff, bringing major relief to Indian pharmaceutical exporters. The exemption covers certain high-value speciality products used in advanced treatments, which would have faced the steep duty under the Trump administration’s planned pharma tariffs.

Industry watchers said the move protects supply chains for complex medicines that are difficult to replace at short notice and acknowledges India’s role as a key supplier of affordable speciality medicines. The relief is expected to support Indian drug makers with strong speciality portfolios and steady exports to the American market.

The development comes as the US administration has announced sweeping new import duties across sectors, including a steep 100 per cent tariff on branded and patented pharmaceutical products announced earlier. Trade analysts cautioned that the exemption list is limited to specific products and that the broader tariff environment for generic and branded drugs remains uncertain. Pharma stocks reacted positively to the news on expectations of protected margins for speciality exporters.