<p>The United States will apply a zero per cent tariff to certain speciality pharmaceutical products and associated ingredients imported from India and 18 other eligible jurisdictions. This comes as Washington prepares to impose a 100 per cent tariff on specified patented pharmaceuticals and ingredients from September 29 (Tuesday).</p><p>The US Department of Commerce published the eligibility framework in the Federal Register, clarifying how speciality pharmaceutical products covered under President Donald Trump's April 2 proclamation will receive tariff treatment.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-breaks-silence-on-us-russia-sanctions-bill-100-tariff-threat-committed-to-energy-security-for-1-4-billion-1789619754941"><strong>India breaks silence on US Russia sanctions bill, 100% tariff threat: ‘Committed to energy security’ for 1.4 billion</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Which drugs qualify for zero tariff?</strong></h2><p>The zero tariff applies to qualifying speciality pharmaceutical products and associated ingredients, including drugs for rare diseases, nuclear medicines, plasma-derived therapies, fertility treatments, cell and gene therapies, antibody-drug conjugates and certain medical countermeasures. Animal health pharmaceutical products are also covered.</p><p>However, the exemption is subject to conditions. Under the April proclamation, the products must either originate in a jurisdiction with a current or forthcoming US trade and security framework agreement or be determined to meet an urgent US health need.</p><p>India is among the nations identified by the Commerce Department as eligible for the tariff adjustment.</p><p>The other eligible jurisdictions are Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ecuador, El Salvador, the European Union, Guatemala, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, North Macedonia, South Korea, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.</p><h2><strong>100% tariff on patented drugs from September 29</strong></h2><p>Trump's April proclamation imposed a 100 per cent ad valorem duty on specified patented pharmaceutical products and associated pharmaceutical ingredients under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.</p><p>The measure took effect on July 31 for companies listed in an annex and is scheduled to apply to other covered companies from September 29.</p><p>The administration has argued that heavy reliance on imported patented medicines and ingredients poses a national security and supply-chain risk and said the tariffs are intended to encourage more pharmaceutical manufacturing in the US.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-scraps-gpt-6-1-astra-before-launch-after-safety-tests-expose-troubling-behaviour-1790647162376"><strong>OpenAI scraps GPT-6.1 Astra before launch after safety tests expose troubling behaviour</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Generic drugs remain outside Section 232 tariffs</strong></h2><p>The Commerce Department notice also reiterates that generic pharmaceutical products, biosimilars and their associated ingredients are not currently subject to the Section 232 pharmaceutical tariffs.</p><p>The new guidance also makes technical changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and clarifies the scope of pharmaceutical articles and generic pharmaceutical products.</p><p>For companies seeking an exemption on the basis of an urgent US health need, the Commerce Department has established a process to apply for approval.</p><h2><strong>What it means for India</strong></h2><p>The inclusion of India in the zero-tariff list is significant for Indian pharmaceutical exporters, particularly those supplying specialty medicines and ingredients that fall within the categories outlined by Commerce.</p><p>Notably, the exemption is not a blanket waiver for every pharmaceutical product imported from India. It applies to qualifying specialty products that meet the conditions set out in the US rules.</p>

The US starting today (Sep 29) will begin to apply a 100% tariff on specified patented pharmaceuticals, but qualifying speciality medicines and ingredients from India can receive zero duty. Here’s which drugs are covered and why the exemption is not a blanket waiver.

The United States will apply a zero per cent tariff to certain speciality pharmaceutical products and associated ingredients imported from India and 18 other eligible jurisdictions. This comes as Washington prepares to impose a 100 per cent tariff on specified patented pharmaceuticals and ingredients from September 29 (Tuesday). The US Department of Commerce published the eligibility framework in the Federal Register, clarifying how speciality pharmaceutical products covered under President Donald Trump's April 2 proclamation will receive tariff treatment. Also read | India breaks silence on US Russia sanctions bill, 100% tariff threat: ‘Committed to energy security’ for 1.4 billion Which drugs qualify for zero tariff? The zero tariff applies to qualifying speciality pharmaceutical products and associated ingredients, including drugs for rare diseases, nuclear medicines, plasma-derived therapies, fertility treatments, cell and gene therapies, antibody-drug conjugates and certain medical countermeasures. Animal health pharmaceutical products are also covered. However, the exemption is subject to conditions. Under the April proclamation, the products must either originate in a jurisdiction with a current or forthcoming US trade and security framework agreement or be determined to meet an urgent US health need. India is among the nations identified by the Commerce Department as eligible for the tariff adjustment. The other eligible jurisdictions are Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ecuador, El Salvador, the European Union, Guatemala, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, North Macedonia, South Korea, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. 100% tariff on patented drugs from September 29 Trump's April proclamation imposed a 100 per cent ad valorem duty on specified patented pharmaceutical products and associated pharmaceutical ingredients under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. The measure took effect on July 31 for companies listed in an annex and is scheduled to apply to other covered companies from September 29. The administration has argued that heavy reliance on imported patented medicines and ingredients poses a national security and supply-chain risk and said the tariffs are intended to encourage more pharmaceutical manufacturing in the US. Also read | OpenAI scraps GPT-6.1 Astra before launch after safety tests expose troubling behaviour Generic drugs remain outside Section 232 tariffs The Commerce Department notice also reiterates that generic pharmaceutical products, biosimilars and their associated ingredients are not currently subject to the Section 232 pharmaceutical tariffs. The new guidance also makes technical changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and clarifies the scope of pharmaceutical articles and generic pharmaceutical products. For companies seeking an exemption on the basis of an urgent US health need, the Commerce Department has established a process to apply for approval. What it means for India The inclusion of India in the zero-tariff list is significant for Indian pharmaceutical exporters, particularly those supplying specialty medicines and ingredients that fall within the categories outlined by Commerce. Notably, the exemption is not a blanket waiver for every pharmaceutical product imported from India. It applies to qualifying specialty products that meet the conditions set out in the US rules.

<p>The US starting today (Sep 29) will begin to apply a 100% tariff on specified patented pharmaceuticals, but qualifying speciality medicines and ingredients from India can receive zero duty. Here’s which drugs are covered and why the exemption is not a blanket waiver.</p>

US to impose 100% tariff on patented drugs starting today, but India gets key specialty exemption

<p>Current policies by the Trump administration—such as the H-1B visa fee hike and new trade tariffs—are being seen in some quarters as attempts to undermine sectors critical to India's economy, particularly information technology. These moves evoke memories of how another Republican administration tried to stall India's technological progress in the late 1980s. That attempt came not through open confrontation but a quiet act of denial: the refusal to sell India a high-performance supercomputer. What was seen then as a betrayal by a trusted partner ended up becoming one of the most important catalysts in India’s journey towards technological self-reliance. This is the story of how a rejection led to a revolution.</p><h2>The supercomputer India wanted—and was denied</h2><p>In 1987, India sought to purchase the Cray X-MP/24 supercomputer from the United States. The stated goal was to use it for advanced meteorological modelling, including monsoon forecasting—critical for Indian agriculture. Accurate predictions could enable timely sowing and help safeguard food security. But despite growing Indo-US cooperation, the United States blocked the sale. Under the Export Administration Act and the COCOM regime, the US classified supercomputers as dual-use technologies, citing the risk that they could aid military or nuclear programmes.</p><p>As a compromise, the US offered India the less powerful single-processor Cray X-MP/14, under strict conditions: it was to be used only for civilian purposes, with no technology transfer or re-export, and a US-appointed official was to monitor its usage. India reluctantly accepted the downgraded offer.</p><p>The decision was viewed in India as an unjust and short-sighted restriction—especially since the stated use was purely scientific and non-military.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/h-1b-visa-fee-hike-to-100-000-a-knockout-punch-for-us-tech-sector-to-sue-adapt-lay-off-or-wait-it-out-is-the-question-1758785623726">H-1B visa fee hike to $100,000 a knockout punch for US tech sector? To sue, adapt, lay off, or wait it out is the question. What are their options?</a></p><h2>A denial that ignited innovation: How India built its own supercomputers</h2><p>Rather than accept technological dependence, India responded with ambition. In 1988, the government established the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), with the goal of developing an indigenous supercomputer. By 1991, C-DAC launched PARAM 8000, India’s first domestically built supercomputer. Parallel efforts were also underway: the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre developed the ANUPAM series, while the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Advanced Numerical Research and Analysis Group, built the PACE series.</p><p>These supercomputers became foundational tools across sectors—weather modelling, seismic studies, defence simulation, nuclear research, and space technology. More than technical milestones, they symbolised a growing national confidence in homegrown innovation.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/elon-musk-sundar-pichai-and-satya-nadella-how-h-1b-visa-holders-shaped-the-us-tech-revolution-1758531026454">Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella: How H-1B visa holders shaped the US tech revolution</a></p><h2>Supercomputers and India’s 1998 nuclear tests</h2><p>India's capabilities in computational modelling matured by the late 1990s. When India conducted its Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, supercomputers like PARAM and ANUPAM played a supporting role in design simulations and data analysis. These simulations enhanced test precision and reduced the need for multiple detonations. Following the tests, as international sanctions—led by the United States, again—curtailed further physical testing, India's advanced computing infrastructure allowed it to continue improving its arsenal through virtual modelling.</p><p>While it would be an overstatement to credit supercomputers alone for India’s nuclear capabilities, they significantly strengthened the country’s strategic preparedness and autonomy.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bharat-os-bharat-tube-hindustani-flow-swadeshi-network-you-must-read-this-entrepreneur-s-post-amid-us-h-1b-visa-backstabbing-and-trump-tariffs-1758702845969">Bharat OS, Bharat Tube, Hindustani Flow, Swadeshi network: You MUST READ this entrepreneur's post amid US H-1B visa backstabbing and Trump tariffs</a></p><h2>Why the US denial of technology to India backfired</h2><p>The United States denied India access to the Cray X-MP/24 based on Cold War-era non-proliferation policies. But in this case, the denial failed to achieve its intended purpose. Instead of slowing India down, it spurred domestic innovation. Within a few years, India had matched—and in some respects surpassed—the computing power it had originally sought to import.</p><p>This episode is now frequently cited by historians as a textbook case of how excessive technological controls can accelerate indigenous development. The long-term effect was a strengthening of India's scientific capacity, and a weakening of US influence over India’s technological choices.</p><h2>Laying the groundwork for India’s IT boom</h2><p>While the Cray episode did not directly cause India’s software boom, it formed part of a broader shift towards self-reliance in technology. Following economic liberalisation in the early 1990s, India rapidly developed into a global hub for software services and engineering talent.</p><p>The early supercomputing efforts helped build technical expertise, inspired a generation of engineers, and established institutions that would go on to lead future technological initiatives.</p><p>PARAM was more than a machine—it was a message that India would not be held back.</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/colossal-trump-visa-blunder-likely-to-boomerang-boost-tech-in-india-1758565334027/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/colossal-trump-visa-blunder-likely-to-boomerang-boost-tech-in-india-1758565334027/embed</a></p><h2>Echoes in 2025: Attempts at stifling India's IT sector&nbsp;</h2><p>Today, India again finds itself navigating an increasingly complex global tech landscape. Even as it collaborates with the US in fields like defence, space, and telecommunications, friction points remain—particularly around export controls, access to semiconductor technologies, and artificial intelligence systems.</p><p>The parallels with 1987 are striking. Then, as now, the message from Washington is mixed. Yet history shows that India has consistently responded to such obstacles by doubling down on domestic innovation.</p><h2>From rejection to resurgence: Time for India to reopen the playbook</h2><p>The denial of the Cray supercomputer was a pivotal moment in India’s technological history. It exposed the vulnerabilities of dependence, but also revealed the strength of resolve.</p><p>India’s supercomputing revolution should serve as a reminder: strategic capability cannot be outsourced. It must be built, protected, and owned. What was meant to be a roadblock turned out to be the launchpad. In an era where tech sovereignty is once again in the spotlight, the lessons from 1987 are more relevant now than ever.</p>

The US denial of a supercomputer to India in the 1990s sparked a tech revolution, leading to PARAM 8000 and other supercomputers being developed domestically. India turned rejection and humiliation into a milestone for scientific and strategic rise. The cycle repeats

Current policies by the Trump administration—such as the H-1B visa fee hike and new trade tariffs—are being seen in some quarters as attempts to undermine sectors critical to India's economy, particularly information technology. These moves evoke memories of how another Republican administration tried to stall India's technological progress in the late 1980s. That attempt came not through open confrontation but a quiet act of denial: the refusal to sell India a high-performance supercomputer. What was seen then as a betrayal by a trusted partner ended up becoming one of the most important catalysts in India’s journey towards technological self-reliance. This is the story of how a rejection led to a revolution. The supercomputer India wanted—and was denied In 1987, India sought to purchase the Cray X-MP/24 supercomputer from the United States. The stated goal was to use it for advanced meteorological modelling, including monsoon forecasting—critical for Indian agriculture. Accurate predictions could enable timely sowing and help safeguard food security. But despite growing Indo-US cooperation, the United States blocked the sale. Under the Export Administration Act and the COCOM regime, the US classified supercomputers as dual-use technologies, citing the risk that they could aid military or nuclear programmes. As a compromise, the US offered India the less powerful single-processor Cray X-MP/14, under strict conditions: it was to be used only for civilian purposes, with no technology transfer or re-export, and a US-appointed official was to monitor its usage. India reluctantly accepted the downgraded offer. The decision was viewed in India as an unjust and short-sighted restriction—especially since the stated use was purely scientific and non-military. Also read: H-1B visa fee hike to $100,000 a knockout punch for US tech sector? To sue, adapt, lay off, or wait it out is the question. What are their options? A denial that ignited innovation: How India built its own supercomputers Rather than accept technological dependence, India responded with ambition. In 1988, the government established the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), with the goal of developing an indigenous supercomputer. By 1991, C-DAC launched PARAM 8000, India’s first domestically built supercomputer. Parallel efforts were also underway: the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre developed the ANUPAM series, while the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Advanced Numerical Research and Analysis Group, built the PACE series. These supercomputers became foundational tools across sectors—weather modelling, seismic studies, defence simulation, nuclear research, and space technology. More than technical milestones, they symbolised a growing national confidence in homegrown innovation. Also read: Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella: How H-1B visa holders shaped the US tech revolution Supercomputers and India’s 1998 nuclear tests India's capabilities in computational modelling matured by the late 1990s. When India conducted its Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, supercomputers like PARAM and ANUPAM played a supporting role in design simulations and data analysis. These simulations enhanced test precision and reduced the need for multiple detonations. Following the tests, as international sanctions—led by the United States, again—curtailed further physical testing, India's advanced computing infrastructure allowed it to continue improving its arsenal through virtual modelling. While it would be an overstatement to credit supercomputers alone for India’s nuclear capabilities, they significantly strengthened the country’s strategic preparedness and autonomy. Also read: Bharat OS, Bharat Tube, Hindustani Flow, Swadeshi network: You MUST READ this entrepreneur's post amid US H-1B visa backstabbing and Trump tariffs Why the US denial of technology to India backfired The United States denied India access to the Cray X-MP/24 based on Cold War-era non-proliferation policies. But in this case, the denial failed to achieve its intended purpose. Instead of slowing India down, it spurred domestic innovation. Within a few years, India had matched—and in some respects surpassed—the computing power it had originally sought to import. This episode is now frequently cited by historians as a textbook case of how excessive technological controls can accelerate indigenous development. The long-term effect was a strengthening of India's scientific capacity, and a weakening of US influence over India’s technological choices. Laying the groundwork for India’s IT boom While the Cray episode did not directly cause India’s software boom, it formed part of a broader shift towards self-reliance in technology. Following economic liberalisation in the early 1990s, India rapidly developed into a global hub for software services and engineering talent. The early supercomputing efforts helped build technical expertise, inspired a generation of engineers, and established institutions that would go on to lead future technological initiatives. PARAM was more than a machine—it was a message that India would not be held back. https://www.wionews.com/videos/colossal-trump-visa-blunder-likely-to-boomerang-boost-tech-in-india-1758565334027/embed Echoes in 2025: Attempts at stifling India's IT sector Today, India again finds itself navigating an increasingly complex global tech landscape. Even as it collaborates with the US in fields like defence, space, and telecommunications, friction points remain—particularly around export controls, access to semiconductor technologies, and artificial intelligence systems. The parallels with 1987 are striking. Then, as now, the message from Washington is mixed. Yet history shows that India has consistently responded to such obstacles by doubling down on domestic innovation. From rejection to resurgence: Time for India to reopen the playbook The denial of the Cray supercomputer was a pivotal moment in India’s technological history. It exposed the vulnerabilities of dependence, but also revealed the strength of resolve. India’s supercomputing revolution should serve as a reminder: strategic capability cannot be outsourced. It must be built, protected, and owned. What was meant to be a roadblock turned out to be the launchpad. In an era where tech sovereignty is once again in the spotlight, the lessons from 1987 are more relevant now than ever.

<p>The US denial of a supercomputer to India in the 1990s sparked a tech revolution, leading to PARAM 8000 and other supercomputers being developed domestically. India turned rejection and humiliation into a milestone for scientific and strategic rise. The cycle repeats</p>

The Great American Betrayal: When the US denied India a supercomputer (and why that was a good thing)

<p>US President Donald Trump is asking the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from India and China, in a joint push to raise the economic cost for Russia over its war in Ukraine, according to the Financial Times. The US president made the demand during a meeting in Washington on Tuesday (September 09).</p><h2><strong>Trump tells Europe to 'step up'</strong></h2><p>“We’re ready to go, ready to go right now, but we’re only going to do this if our European partners step up with us,” one US official told FT. Another said Washington was prepared to “mirror” EU tariffs on India and China, which could mean further hikes on goods from both countries.</p><p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-close-friends-natural-partners-trump-softens-tone-on-india-says-trade-deal-will-be-done-soon-here-s-how-pm-modi-responded-1757470588479"><strong>'Close friends, natural partners': Trump softens tone on India, says trade deal will be done ‘soon’ - Here's how PM Modi responded</strong></a></p><p>Trump, according to officials, said that “the obvious approach here is, let’s all put on dramatic tariffs and keep the tariffs on until the Chinese agree to stop buying the oil. There really aren’t many other places that oil can go.” He said, "Any of these things will of course be costly, and for the president to do it, we need our EU partners and ideally all of our partners with us. And we’ll share the pain together.” He added that the move would only work if Europeans had “the political will to bring the war to an end.”</p><h2><strong>India hits back at US tariffs</strong></h2><p>The push comes just weeks after Washington slapped a punitive 25% tariff on Indian imports over New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases, taking total duties as high as 50%. India has denounced the measures as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” while pointing out that the US and EU continue trading with Russia themselves. In 2024, EU trade with Russia stood at €67.5 billion, with services trade reaching €17.2 billion in 2023, according to European Commission figures.</p><p>Despite the tariff threats, Trump later softened his tone, posting on Truth Social, he said, “India, and the United States of America, are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations. I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks.”</p><h2><strong>EU divided on next steps</strong></h2><p>While some European capitals are debating secondary sanctions on China and India for buying Russian oil and gas, many remain cautious given their deep trade links with Beijing and New Delhi. US diplomats have also made clear that Washington does not intend to target India and China without Europe’s full participation.</p>

US President Trump urged the EU to impose 100% tariffs on Indian and Chinese imports, aiming to pressure Russia over Ukraine. He acknowledged that while any of these things will, of course, be costly, EU and US will have to share the pain together.

US President Donald Trump is asking the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from India and China, in a joint push to raise the economic cost for Russia over its war in Ukraine, according to the Financial Times. The US president made the demand during a meeting in Washington on Tuesday (September 09). Trump tells Europe to 'step up' “We’re ready to go, ready to go right now, but we’re only going to do this if our European partners step up with us,” one US official told FT. Another said Washington was prepared to “mirror” EU tariffs on India and China, which could mean further hikes on goods from both countries. Also read: 'Close friends, natural partners': Trump softens tone on India, says trade deal will be done ‘soon’ - Here's how PM Modi responded Trump, according to officials, said that “the obvious approach here is, let’s all put on dramatic tariffs and keep the tariffs on until the Chinese agree to stop buying the oil. There really aren’t many other places that oil can go.” He said, "Any of these things will of course be costly, and for the president to do it, we need our EU partners and ideally all of our partners with us. And we’ll share the pain together.” He added that the move would only work if Europeans had “the political will to bring the war to an end.” India hits back at US tariffs The push comes just weeks after Washington slapped a punitive 25% tariff on Indian imports over New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases, taking total duties as high as 50%. India has denounced the measures as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” while pointing out that the US and EU continue trading with Russia themselves. In 2024, EU trade with Russia stood at €67.5 billion, with services trade reaching €17.2 billion in 2023, according to European Commission figures. Despite the tariff threats, Trump later softened his tone, posting on Truth Social, he said, “India, and the United States of America, are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations. I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks.” EU divided on next steps While some European capitals are debating secondary sanctions on China and India for buying Russian oil and gas, many remain cautious given their deep trade links with Beijing and New Delhi. US diplomats have also made clear that Washington does not intend to target India and China without Europe’s full participation.

<p>US President Trump urged the EU to impose 100% tariffs on Indian and Chinese imports, aiming to pressure Russia over Ukraine. He acknowledged that while any of these things will, of course, be costly, EU and US will have to share the pain.</p>

'Share the pain together': Trump tells EU to slap 100% tariffs on India, China to choke Russia’s oil lifeline

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US to impose 100% tariff on patented drugs starting today, but India gets key specialty exemption

When the US denied India a supercomputer (and why that was a good thing)

Trump tells EU to slap 100% tariffs on India, China to choke Russia