Trump Rolls Back Food Tariffs to Tackle Grocery Costs — A Sharp Pivot in Tariff Strategy
In a late‑Friday move with immediate consumer stakes, President Donald Trump rolled back tariffs on more than 200 food and agricultural items — including beef, coffee, bananas, tomatoes, tea, cocoa, spices and certain fertilizers — citing “affordability” concerns and recent trade frameworks with Latin American partners. The White House says the order took effect retroactively at 12:01 a.m. on November 13, 2025, marking the most significant revision yet to this year’s “reciprocal tariffs.” [1]
- What happened: An executive action exempts hundreds of common food imports from Trump’s global 10% tariff and related add‑ons. [2]
- Why it matters: The rollback aims to ease grocery prices that have vexed voters and featured prominently in recent state elections. [3]
- What enabled it: New trade “frameworks” with Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, and El Salvador; a separate framework with Switzerland and Liechtenstein. [4]
What Changed — And When
The White House fact sheet says the President “modified the scope” of reciprocal tariffs by adding specific agricultural products to Annex II of Executive Order 14257, removing them from tariff coverage. Products listed include coffee and tea; tropical fruits and juices; cocoa and spices; bananas, oranges, and tomatoes; beef; and certain fertilizers. [5]
- Effective date: Retroactive to 12:01 a.m. ET, November 13, 2025. [6]
- Scale: “More than 200” food items receive relief, according to industry and trade reports. [7]
- Administration rationale: Officials say recent trade deals and supply needs justify exclusions for goods not produced in sufficient quantity domestically. [8]
“They may in some cases [raise prices],” Trump said of tariffs, while asserting overall inflation is low. [9]
Why Now: Politics, Prices, and Policy
Friday’s move follows weeks of political pressure tied to voters’ frustration with grocery costs and a string of Democratic wins in high‑profile state races. Reuters and AP both reported the White House is sharpening its focus on affordability as sticker shock persists. [10]
Economically, official data show food‑at‑home prices up 2.7% year‑over‑year in September; coffee categories posted double‑digit increases in late‑summer CPI readings. That provides a data backdrop for tariff relief on heavily imported staples like coffee and tropical fruits. [11]
Food inflation snapshot 📊
Food at home: +2.7% YoY in September 2025 (CPI). [12]
Coffee spike
Coffee index up roughly 19–21% YoY in Aug–Sep CPI detail tables. [13]
Relief timeline
Analysts warn price relief may be gradual as inventories roll off and contracts reset. [14]
How the Rollback Fits the Bigger Trade Picture
The tariff relief lands amid a broader recalibration of Trump’s tariff strategy. Earlier this year, the administration implemented a 10% base “reciprocal” tariff along with country‑specific add‑ons; subsequent orders tweaked coverage and suspended certain “heightened” China tariffs. The latest step carves out a targeted basket of food imports while officials tout new trade frameworks. [15]
New Frameworks — The Trade‑Off
- Latin America: USTR announced frameworks with Argentina and Ecuador and joint statements covering El Salvador and Guatemala — with commitments on tariff and non‑tariff barriers, IP, labor, and digital trade. [16]
- Europe: A separate framework with Switzerland and Liechtenstein emphasizes investment flows and market access, which the White House showcased the same day. [17]
Stakeholder Reactions
| Stakeholder | Reaction | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Food retailers | FMI said exemptions “should help consumers” and manufacturers reliant on affected inputs. | [18] |
| Democrats (House/Senate) | Rep. Richard Neal called it “putting out a fire they started”; Sen. Ron Wyden said Trump finally admitted tariffs raised prices. | [19] |
| Business community | U.S. Chamber urged more relief beyond today’s list as affordability remains a top concern. | [20] |
| Market watchers | Bloomberg framed the action as a voter‑facing affordability pivot; coverage emphasized breadth (beef, tomatoes, coffee, bananas). | [21] |
Will Prices Fall — And How Fast?
Tariffs are one input among many that shape shelf prices. Analysts note that lower duties can take time to filter through contracts, inventories, and logistics; near‑term relief is likely to vary by product category (e.g., bananas vs. roasted coffee vs. beef). A gradual pass‑through is plausible, but watch CPI sub‑components and import price data through winter for confirmation. [22]
“The exemptions would reduce trade levies on commodities [that] can’t be produced in the US in sufficient quantity,” Bloomberg reported, with the White House listing hundreds of products. [23]
Legal and Procedural Mechanics
The White House says Friday’s order modifies the tariff scope by moving specified items to Annex II of EO 14257, effectively exempting them from the reciprocal tariffs. This follows earlier executive actions suspending some “heightened” China duties and adjusting country‑specific rates. Expect Federal Register implementing notices and HS‑line guidance to clarify coverage and timing for importers and brokers. [24]
What to Watch Next
Further exclusions? 🗳️
Political pressure around affordability will remain high; additional carve‑outs — especially for goods not produced domestically — are possible if prices don’t ease. [25]
Trade frameworks → final deals
USTR signaled intent to “finalize the text” with Argentina and to move quickly on Latin America frameworks; watch if final agreements broaden product coverage. [26]
Data confirmation 📊
Monitor CPI items (coffee, tropical fruits, beef) and import price indices over the next two months for measurable effects. [27]
Bottom Line
The administration’s rollback of food tariffs is a concrete policy response to a clear political and economic signal: grocery costs matter. It also represents a notable shift from maximalist tariffs toward a more selective model tethered to new trade frameworks. Whether this recalibration materially lowers prices — and how quickly — will turn on execution details and market dynamics that go beyond tariffs alone. [28]
References
- Reuters: “Trump cuts tariffs on beef, coffee and other foods as inflation concerns mount” (published Nov. 15, 2025 UTC). [29]
- White House Fact Sheet (Nov. 14, 2025): “Following Trade Deal Announcements, President Donald J. Trump Modifies the Scope of the Reciprocal Tariffs…” [30]
- USTR fact sheets and releases on frameworks with Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, and El Salvador (Nov. 13–14, 2025). [31]
- White House Fact Sheet: Framework with Switzerland and Liechtenstein (Nov. 14, 2025). [32]
- AP News: “Trump scraps tariffs on beef, coffee and tropical fruit in a push to lower grocery store prices” (Nov. 14, 2025). [33]
- Washington Post: “Trump repeals tariffs on some foods as Americans face high grocery prices” (Nov. 14, 2025). [34]
- Bloomberg: “Trump to Cut Tariffs on Beef, Tomatoes, Coffee to Lower Prices” (Nov. 14, 2025). [35]
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (CPI, Sept. 2025): food at home +2.7% YoY; coffee category detail. [36]
- Grocery Dive: “US exempts 200+ agricultural products from reciprocal tariffs” (Nov. 14, 2025). [37]
- Yahoo Finance: “Trump Moves to Cut Tariffs to Ease Grocery Prices — But Relief May Be Slow” (Nov. 14, 2025). [38]
- Sen. Ron Wyden statement (Nov. 14, 2025). [39]
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