Coffee, Beef, Tropical Fruit Tariffs Scrapped in White House Reversal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump announced the elimination of U.S. tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruit, and other staples in a bid to bring down grocery costs. The move marks a major reversal in his administration’s aggressive trade approach, especially after recent voter backlash tied to inflation. Critics say it confirms what economists warned — that Trump’s tariffs were worsening price hikes for everyday consumers.
Quick Look:
| What Happened | Trump scrapped tariffs on several imported food items. |
|---|---|
| Why Now? | Response to voter backlash and high grocery bills after off-year election losses. |
| Key Items Affected | Beef, coffee, bananas, cocoa, oranges, tomatoes, spices, tea, fruit juice, and fertilizers. |
| Policy Shift | A break from Trump’s “America First” tariff-heavy trade policy. |
| Critics Say | It’s an admission that tariffs raised consumer prices, despite Trump’s denials. |
| Supporters Say | The rollback will ease supply chain costs and help reduce food inflation. |
| Industry Response | The Food Industry Association applauded the move as a “critical step” toward affordability. |
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a surprise reversal of his hallmark trade strategy, President Donald Trump on Friday announced that his administration is scrapping tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruits, and other everyday food imports. The decision comes amid increasing political pressure to curb soaring grocery prices and salvage voter trust after Republicans underperformed in the latest elections.
“We just did a little bit of a rollback on some foods like coffee,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, hours after the announcement.
This sharp pivot in policy is noteworthy. Trump has spent much of his second term imposing steep tariffs on foreign goods, aiming to incentivize domestic production and bolster the American economy. But with persistent inflation, especially at the grocery store, the administration now seems to be rethinking its approach.
Economic Pressure & Political Fallout
Inflation continues to strain household budgets, despite Trump’s repeated claims that it has “vanished” under his leadership. The latest consumer sentiment polls show frustration over food prices as a top voter issue — a dynamic that helped Democrats notch big wins in states like Virginia and New Jersey earlier this month.
“President Trump is finally admitting what we always knew: his tariffs are raising prices for the American people,” said Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA). “This is not a pivot to affordability. It’s damage control.”
While Trump has long insisted that tariffs don’t significantly raise consumer prices — arguing that foreign countries bear most of the burden — economic analysts and grocers point to evidence showing otherwise.
What’s Being Removed:
The executive order eliminates import tariffs on:
- Beef
- Coffee
- Bananas
- Oranges
- Tomatoes
- Cocoa
- Spices
- Tea
- Fruit Juices
- Certain fertilizers
Many of these products are not produced in large quantities within the U.S., making their tariffs particularly counterproductive to lowering prices.
“Despite the wide availability of legal imports, illegal price pressures were forming due to the tariffs,” noted the Food Industry Association. “President Trump’s proclamation is a vital step toward stabilizing food prices.”
Trade Deals & Timing
The rollback also coincides with new framework agreements Trump has recently signed with Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Argentina. These deals aim to improve trade access for U.S. products in those nations — and, in exchange, allow greater import flexibility for key agricultural goods.
Trump hinted at the changes during a Fox News interview earlier this week, telling host Laura Ingraham, “We’re going to have some coffee come in.”
Tariff Revenue → $2,000 Checks?
Even as Trump pulled back on tariffs, he doubled down on a previous campaign promise: to use tariff revenue to issue $2,000 checks to most Americans.
“That’s real money,” Trump said Friday. “It comes from other countries. Everybody but the rich will get this.”
However, he also suggested the funds might help reduce national debt, raising concerns about how both goals could be financed simultaneously. Critics say issuing checks during ongoing inflation could risk further price spikes — a problem Trump dismissed.
“This is earned money, not printed money like before,” he said.
Bottom Line
Trump’s decision to eliminate tariffs on food imports reflects a clear political recalibration. Faced with voter anxiety over inflation and poor midterm momentum, the White House is attempting to shift focus back to affordability. Whether this change in course will ease prices — or convince skeptical voters — remains to be seen.
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