Trump Administration Eases Tariffs on Key Food Imports Amid Rising Price Pressures

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order exempting a wide range of imported food products from his sweeping tariff regime, as the White House moves to ease mounting public concern over rising grocery prices.

The decision, announced Friday, carves out more than 100 items from the administration’s baseline 10% import tariff. Products now excluded from the levies include coffee, bananas, beef cuts, cocoa, tea, a variety of fruits, spices, nuts, grains, and other staples that are not produced in sufficient quantities in the United States.

The policy shift comes after weeks of intensified political pressure, following the Republican Party’s disappointing performance in last week’s elections and voter frustration over higher living costs. While Trump has previously dismissed affordability concerns as a “con job” by Democrats, he has in recent days sharpened his focus on cost-of-living issues.

Grocery prices—particularly the soaring cost of beef have become a political flashpoint. Trump last week called for an investigation into the meat-packing industry, alleging “illicit collusion” and “price manipulation.” At the same time, his administration has tried to rally support for its trade measures by promising Americans $2,000 tariff rebate cheques, an initiative now before the Supreme Court, which is reviewing whether Trump had the legal authority to impose such broad tariffs.

Friday’s exemptions mark a notable shift for an administration that has long argued its tariffs would not fuel inflation. Economists have repeatedly warned that import taxes are typically passed on to consumers. Government data shows grocery prices up 2.7% over the past year despite overall inflation cooling more than expected.

Trump, speaking to reporters, framed the move as a practical adjustment. “These are products not produced in the US, so there’s no protection of our industries,” he said. “We just did a little bit of a rollback on some foods, like coffee… Now they’ll be on the low side in a very short period of time.” He added that he does not expect further policy reversals.

The tariff exemptions took effect retroactively at midnight on Thursday, 13 November.

In a parallel effort to reduce costs for consumers, the administration also announced it will lower import taxes on coffee and bananas through new trade agreements with four Latin American nations. Both Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have pledged to bring US coffee prices down by 20% this year.

Products Removed From Tariff Lists

The White House list includes more than 100 items, among them:

• Beverage crops: coffee, cocoa, black and green tea, vanilla beans

• Beef products: high-quality cuts, bone-in and boneless, corned beef, frozen and preserved varieties

• Fruit and vegetables: avocados, bananas, coconuts, mangoes, pineapples, plantains, tomatoes, peppers, guavas, limes, acai

• Spices: allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, curry, ginger, nutmeg, saffron, turmeric, and others

• Nuts, grains and specialty items: Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, barley, capers, miso, tapioca, taro, water chestnuts, and more

The rollback signals a recalibration of trade policy as the administration confronts voter anxiety over everyday costs—an issue analysts say could shape political dynamics in the months ahead.