Trump pharma tariff threat raises specter of shortages, price hikes

The pharmaceutical industry is bracing for chaos if President Trump follows through on his threat to impose "a major tariff" on prescription drug imports.  

Tariffs would disrupt international supply chains, force companies to decide whether to pass increased costs on to patients and exacerbate existing drug shortages. 

The administration wants more drug companies to onshore their manufacturing, but experts said such a process would take years, while the pain from tariffs could be much more immediate.