![\"Despite](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Despite-Tariffs-Canada-Still-Best-Alternative-to-High-American-Drug-Prices.jpg\" "\\"Despite")
Despite Tariffs Canada Still Best Alternative to High American Drug Prices<\/p>\nFor decades Americans have turned to Canadian pharmacy referral services to mitigate high domestic drug prices, often saving hundreds if not thousands of dollars annually on their prescription drug purchases. However, the Trump administration\u2019s imposition of tariffs on a variety of imported goods including pharmaceuticals has raised concerns, especially among seniors, who rely on less expensive imported drugs to maintain their health. Indeed, for some, especially seniors with modest fixed incomes and serious health conditions, affordable drug prices can be a matter of life and death.<\/p>\n
Despite Tariffs Canada Still Best Alternative to High American Drug Prices<\/p>\n
Currently, pharmaceutical companies set prices according to what the American market will bear. This free-market approach, along with long-term patent protection for new products, results in limited competition and consumer choice. This lack of checks and balances on drug pricing means Americans pay some of the highest drug prices in the world. Consequently, in an effort to lower domestic drug prices, the current Administration is implementing a \u201cMost Favored Nation\u201d (MFN) purchasing model for Medicare Part B medications. While the initiative is laudable, many roadblocks remain. However, a direct-to-consumer model to access affordable drug prices already exits \u2013 indeed it has been available to American patients for decades.<\/p>\n
Accredited\u00a0Canadian pharmacy referral services\u00a0procure\u00a0their products from\u00a0jurisdictions\u00a0where price controls exist by law. As a result,\u00a0drugs\u00a0imported\u00a0into America from these\u00a0jurisdictions\u00a0can cost up to 80% less than their domestic counterparts. The referral services\u00a0generally import\u00a0their products from favored nations including Canada,\u00a0the United\u00a0Kingdom,\u00a0Australia\u00a0and New Zealand. Congress has recognized these nations as \u201cfavored\u201d due to their\u00a0high product quality,\u00a0handling\u00a0and safety standards. This assures patients that despite their low cost, the products they receive from these referral services\u00a0are\u00a0safe\u00a0and comparable\u00a0in\u00a0efficacy\u00a0to their\u00a0domestically\u00a0purchased\u00a0counterparts.\u00a0So, what\u00a0affect\u00a0have tariffs had on\u00a0the price of drugs entering America from abroad?<\/p>\n
In the past, imported goods valued under $800 were exempt from importation fees under a \u201cde minimis\u201d exemption. However, as of August 2025, this exemption was lifted, and all goods entering America are now subject to new customs declaration and prepayment procedures in the form of prepaid tariffs, import duties, administration and handling fees. In general, this has translated into slightly higher prices and slightly longer shipping times for medications arriving in America from abroad. The good news is, the Canadian pharmacy referral services take care of all the requisite importation paperwork and pre-payments. The only changes patients are experiencing are slight increases in the total price of their orders.<\/p>\n
So how much more can we expect to pay?\u00a0<\/p>\n
To get a handle on how much more we can expect to pay if we order our medications from Canada under the new tariff policy, we visited PlanetDrugsDirect.com<\/a>. We chose PlanetDrugsDirect.com<\/a> since the company\u00a0is one of the most popular Canadian pharmacy referral services, with a great reputation for low prices and excellent service. It is important to remember\u00a0that there are many variables\u00a0when\u00a0price shopping\u00a0for prescription drugs\u00a0since base prices fluctuate, and\u00a0tariff\u00a0amounts depend on the country where the products\u00a0originate\u00a0from.<\/p>\n As an example, let\u2019s explore name brand Gemtesa (sometimes referred to as Vibegron or Obgemsa) in a 75mg dose for 90 tablets. Planet\u2019s price is $417.99. The best local American price, according to GoodRx, is $1,514.70. If we were to order our Gemtesa from PlanetDrugDirect.com<\/a> our price would be $417.99 + a $5.00 handling fee + $62.70 import duty for a total of $485.69. Assuming the best GoodRx price has no shipping fees, by ordering through Planet, the savings would be a very substantial $1,029.01 or about 68%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n As another example, we checked Planet\u2019s catalogue for a price for name brand Eliquis. Planet\u2019s price for 5mg, 180 tablets is $389.99 while GoodRx\u2019s price is $1,908.00. Interestingly, Planet\u2019s Eliquis originates from America and is shipped through Australia so there are no duties or administration fees applied. Assuming the GoodRx price has no shipping fees, with Planet we save $1,518.01 or about 79%.\u00a0<\/p>\n As we can see, despite the new duties and handling fees, purchasing our prescription medications through PlanetDrugsDirect.com<\/a> is still far less expensive than purchasing from a local American pharmacy. It is important to remember that prices are subject to change, so to get the most up-to-date information it is best to visit the\u00a0 PlanetDrugsDirect.com<\/a> \u00a0website, or by calling their toll-free number 1-888-791-3784 to speak with an agent who will research the price for us. Planet\u2019s agents will also try to source our medication from the location with the lowest applicable tariffs. It is also a good idea to check whether a generic version of our drug is available for even greater savings.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n About PlanetDrugsDirect.com\u00a0<\/p>\n ===========================================================================\u00a0<\/p>\n PlanetDrugsDirect.com<\/a> is a member of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA) which imposes on its members the highest standards for quality control and customer service. The company also provides a no-questions-asked replacement policy should orders\u00a0not arrive through no fault of the customer. A\u00a0consumer protection plan through the Norton Shopping Guarantee\u00a0is also provided\u00a0free of charge.\u00a0First-time customers receive a 25% discount on their first order up to $250 although some products are exempt from the offer. PlanetDrugsDirect.com<\/a> has been serving satisfied American patients for over twenty years and has\u00a0earned over 52,000 customer reviews.\u00a0<\/p>\n =============================================================================\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n
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