Trump administration moves to block most personal prescription imports from Canada

The Trump administration is preparing a rule that will, in January, largely prohibit Americans from bringing in prescription drugs purchased from Canadian pharmacies, as enforced by the Food and Drug Administration and Customs Border Protection. The measure was initially slated for October 22 but was delayed last Thursday to prevent a price surge ahead of the midterm elections. Earlier, the administration had promoted state-level purchases of Canadian medicines to cut costs, but pharmaceutical lobbyists blocked that effort.

Advocates for personal importation say the ban will push patients who depend on Canadian sources, especially seniors on Medicare, into significantly higher spending. The policy is framed as a protection of domestic drug safety, though opponents view it as a move that benefits Big Pharma profits. The author, who saves about $1,000 annually by buying eye drops from Canada, warns that many others could face similar financial strain.