The Trump administration on Friday announced an executive order rolling back tariffs on a wide range of grocery staples — including beef, coffee, tomatoes, and bananas — in an effort to ease food prices and deliver on the president’s promise to improve affordability for American families. The order exempts selected agricultural imports from earlier reciprocal tariffs, targeting items that have seen sharp price increases or that the U.S. cannot produce in sufficient quantities. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previewed the move, noting that lifting tariffs on goods like coffee and bananas would lower prices “very quickly,” while the White House framed the shift as part of a broader strategy to restore affordability amid persistent inflation in key food categories.
The decision, however, sparked renewed debate over the impact of tariffs. Critics argued the rollback contradicts the administration’s longstanding claim that tariffs do not raise consumer prices. Scott Lincicome of the Cato Institute said the move amounted to an admission that tariffs contribute to inflation. Still, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer defended the strategy, describing Trump’s approach as using tariffs for leverage and adjusting them when beneficial for American consumers and businesses. The announcement follows new trade agreements with Argentina, Guatemala, Ecuador, and El Salvador to reduce duties on products the U.S. cannot grow domestically.
Industry reactions were mixed. The National Coffee Association praised the decision as a win for consumers and the wider economy, while the Distilled Spirits Council criticized the administration for excluding European and U.K. liquors from tariff relief. Economists noted that the policy shift reflects growing political pressure to curb food inflation ahead of 2026, without cutting domestic farm subsidies or broader trade protections.