Trump signs executive orders to reduce drug prices

Unable to land the big deal with Congress to curb drug costs, President Donald Trump is moving on his own to allow imports of prescription medicines, along with other limited steps that might have some election-year appeal.

At a White House ceremony, Trump signed four executive orders. One is about importation. The others would direct drugmaker rebates straight to patients, provide insulin and EpiPens at steep discounts to low-income people, and use lower international prices to pay for some Medicare drugs.

A drive to pass major legislation this year stalled in Congress.

Saying he is "unwilling to wait any longer," Trump said Friday he was taking action on his own, pledging the actions will lead to "massive reductions in drug costs."

He also said the orders will work to bridge the inequity between what Americans pay compared with citizens of other countries.

"We pay for all of the research and all of the development and foreign countries pay absolutely nothing and our consumer gets charged," Trump said.