WASHINGTON : According to a U.S. official who spoke to the German Press Agency, the Trump administration will instead begin preparing measures targeting pharmaceutical companies that refuse to move their production to the U.S. or lower drug prices. The official did not clarify the reasons for the delay.

Trump stunned industry leaders last week when he abruptly announced 100 percent tariffs on all imports of brand-name and patented drugs into the U.S., effective October 1. He said companies could avoid the tariffs by building manufacturing facilities on American soil, though the details of how such rules would be enforced remain unclear.

In the lead-up to the planned implementation date, U.S. officials softened the stance slightly, confirming that the European Union would be exempt from the harsher tariff regime. Instead, imports from the EU will continue to face a 15 percent duty under the existing rules.