A container ship is seen at the loading terminal "Altenwerder" in the port of Hamburg, Germany, February 17, 2025. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany expects the United States to apply a 15% tariff rate to pharmaceuticals and heavy trucks, a government spokesperson said during a regular press conference on Monday.

U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping new import tariffs last week, including 100% duties on patented drugs and 25% levies on heavy-duty trucks, triggering fresh trade uncertainty.

A White House official later said the administration would honor 15% caps on tariffs for imported pharmaceuticals under patent for countries with trade deals that specified such reductions.

(Reporting by Bernadette Hogg and Thomas Seythal; editing by Matthias Williams)