India, April 3 -- A year after he imposed reciprocal trade tariffs on countries, a move since overruled by the US Supreme Court, President Donald Trump has now levied new tariffs on patented pharmaceutical imports.

The move primarily aims to pressure pharma companies to manufacture more in the United States of America. It was taken citing national security and supply chain risks following a probe. However, generic medicines are currently exempt from the tariffs; officials have cautioned that this could change if the generics industry does not move production to the US.

For India, the exemption of generic drugs, as clarified in the proclamation, proves crucial. Indian firms dominate global markets in the generic drugs sector.

Therefore,...