Trump rolls back tariffs on dozens of food products

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order allowing a range of food products, including coffee, bananas and beef, to evade sweeping tariffs.

This move comes at a time when his administration faces increasing pressure due to rising prices. While Trump had previously downplayed concerns about the cost of living, he did so I focused on this issue Since his Republican Party’s poor performance in last week’s elections.

Dozens of products on the list of exemptions issued by the White House range from avocados and tomatoes to coconut and mango.

The Trump administration said on Friday that these goods cannot be produced in sufficient quantities domestically.

Trump has long said that his tariffs – currently a baseline of 10% on imports from all countries, with additional duties on many trading partners – will not lead to higher prices for American consumers. He also said affordability was a “new word” and a “con job” by Democrats.

He said taxes are necessary to reduce the US trade deficit, which is the gap between the value of the goods it buys from other countries and those it sells to them. Trump said the United States was being exploited by “cheaters” and “ripped off” by foreigners, adding that higher tariffs would encourage US residents to buy American goods instead.

But grocery costs and rising beef prices have become a political issue for Trump. Last week he called for Research on the meat packing industryHe accused the companies of “illegal collusion, price fixing and price manipulation.”

It was intended to garner support for taxes and shows Tariff rebate checks for $2,000 For Americans – even as the US Supreme Court is currently considering whether Trump has the legal authority to implement it.

But the latest exemptions signal a U-turn by the Trump administration, as the White House seeks to lower prices by rolling back duties on some basic food items.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said the decision would affect products that are not produced in the United States, “so there is no protection for our industries or our food products.”

He added that he did not believe there would be a need for further policy retreat in the future, saying, “I don’t think it will be necessary.”

“We’ve pulled back a little bit on some foods, like coffee for example, where coffee prices were a little high. And now they’re going to be on the low side in a very short period of time,” Trump said.

Economists warned that companies would pass the cost of tariffs on to their customers in the form of higher prices.

While inflation remained more moderate than many analysts expected in September, most items tracked in the Labor Department’s inflation report showed Price increaseswith grocery stores increasing 2.7% over last year.

The White House said that the new tariff exemptions approved by the Trump administration for food products will go into effect retroactively at midnight on Thursday, November 13.

In another move to address concerns among consumers about grocery prices, the Trump administration said import taxes on coffee and bananas would be reduced as part of… Trade agreements with four countries in Latin America.

This week, both Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent pledged to cut coffee prices by 20% in the US this year.