India, Oct. 3 -- The Indian pharmaceutical industry faces heavy and gusty headwinds due to the ongoing investigations in America against imports, and a 100 per cent tariff on the entry of branded and patented drugs in the US. According to a clarification, the high duties apply to Indian exports since the country does not have a bilateral trade deal with America, unlike Europe. On the positive side, they will be on branded and patented drugs, and not generic medicines, which form the bulk of the exports from India to the US.

But the day the high duties were supposed to be imposed, the White House came out with another caveat. The decision was delayed, and the officials claimed that the plan was under review. This came after the US preside...