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The Trump administration has reversed course on its sweeping tariff policy by removing levies on more than 100 food items, including coffee, bananas, beef, and several fruits and spices, as rising grocery prices spark political pressure and public concern.
The Trump administration has announced a major rollback of tariffs on a wide range of food products as concerns grow over rising living costs across the United States. President Donald Trump signed an executive order exempting key food imports—such as coffee, bananas, beef, avocados, and tomatoes—from his previously strict tariff regime.
This shift comes at a time when the administration is facing heightened scrutiny over inflation and grocery prices. Although President Trump had long insisted that tariffs would not increase costs for American consumers, he has recently intensified his focus on affordability following the Republican Party’s disappointing performance in the latest elections.
The White House explained that the newly exempted goods are items that the U.S. does not produce in sufficient quantities domestically. Trump emphasized that the move is intended to ease consumer burdens without harming American industries. “There’s no protection issue here,” he told reporters, adding that prices for products like coffee would drop “in a very short period of time.”
The rollback marks a significant pivot from Trump’s earlier stance. His administration had maintained baseline tariffs of 10% on most imports, with additional levies targeting specific countries. While these taxes were introduced to reduce the U.S. trade deficit and encourage Americans to “buy American,” industries and economists warned that companies would eventually pass on the additional costs to consumers.
Grocery prices, particularly the rising cost of beef, have recently become a political flashpoint. Trump has even called for an investigation into alleged price manipulation by meat-packing companies, accusing them of collusion and illicit practices.
The new tariff exemptions will apply retroactively from 13 November, covering more than 100 items including a variety of fruits, spices, nuts, grains, teas, and beef products. In addition, the administration announced reductions in import taxes for coffee and bananas through trade agreements with four Latin American nations. Both President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pledged to reduce coffee prices in the U.S. by 20% within the year.
Despite the policy reversal, Trump expressed confidence that further rollbacks would not be necessary, suggesting the latest measures would sufficiently ease price pressures.
