US President Donald Trump opened a bombastic address during the National Republican Congressional Committee evening on Tuesday by taunting international countries hit with his tariffs, then jeered at Congress’s negotiating skills.

“I’m telling you- these countries are calling us up, kissing my a**. They are dying to make a deal- ‘please sir make a deal, I’ll do anything, I’ll do anything sir'” Trump stated, causing his audience to erupt in laughter and indicating his belligerent economic policy.

Trump Slams Rebel Republicans on Tariff Talks

He also had a dig at his own party’s critics. “I’ll see some rebel Republicans that want to grandstand say, ‘I think that Congress should take over negotiations.’ Let me tell you, you don’t negotiate like I negotiate,” he added.

Trump threatened that if Congress were to conduct trade negotiations, America’s interests would be sold out. “Congress takes over negotiating to sell America fast because you’re going to go busted. I just saw it today. A couple of your congressmen said, ‘I think we should get involved in the negotiation of the tariffs, ‘” he added.

Taking the example of China, Trump ridiculed his critics of tariff policy. “Oh, that’s what I need- I need some guy telling me how to negotiate. I tell you, the happiest people in the world would be Chinese. They wouldn’t be paying 104 per cent. I tell, they’d be paying no per cent [instead] we’d be paying them 104 per cent,” he declared.

Trump Announces Pharma Tariff to Encourage Local Manufacturing

Trump also made a big policy statement, announcing proposals to impose very high tariffs on drug imports to incentivize the domestic manufacturing of drugs.

“Tariffs on pharma will be there because we don’t make our own pharma drugs; they are made in another country. The same packet in the US is priced at USD 10 or more,” he stated.

He underscored the market power of the US, saying, “We are going to tariff pharma in such a way that companies will come rushing to us very soon. The advantage we have is, we are very big market.”

India, Other Exporters Face Consequences of New Tariff Plan

Trump ended by saying that pharmaceutical firms will bring back manufacturing to the US due to the new tariffs.

“Very shortly, will announce a major tariff on pharma, and when these companies hear that, they will leave China and other countries because most of their products are sold here. And, they will be opening their plants here,” he announced.

The decision could take a big toll on India, which shipped $8.7 billion worth of pharma products to the US during FY24.