Bitter Pill: Australian Leaders Scramble After Trump’s Pharma Tariff Announcement

Health Minister Mark Butler says the government is working with pharmaceutical companies on the fallout from the announcement.

CSL signage at the main entrance of it's offices and manufacturing plant in Parkville in Melbourne, Australia on Nov. 6, 2020. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Australian politicians have reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s directive to introduce 100 percent tariffs on pharmaceutical imports on Oct. 1.

Australia is a major exporter of blood and plasma products to America valued at A$2 billion last year.