WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order rolling back tariffs on a wide range of food imports — including beef, tomatoes, coffee and bananas — in an effort to respond to mounting public frustration over high grocery prices, the White House announced Friday.
The reversal comes after months of political pressure and a string of Democratic victories in state and local elections in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City, where affordability dominated voter concerns.
Tariff Exemptions Take Effect Immediately
The food import exemptions took effect retroactively at midnight on Thursday. Any tariff refunds owed to importers will be processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection under existing procedures.
The move marks a sharp shift for Trump, who has repeatedly argued that his sweeping tariff regime is not contributing to inflation. Earlier this year, he imposed a 10% base tariff on nearly all imports, with additional state-by-state duties layered on top — a strategy that has roiled global trade relationships.
Framework Deals to Lower Costs Further
Friday’s announcement followed framework trade agreements unveiled a day earlier that would eliminate tariffs on certain food products imported from Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala and El Salvador once finalized. U.S. officials say more such agreements could be signed before the end of the year.
White House Shifts Messaging Amid Voter Anger
Trump has recently leaned heavily into messaging on affordability, blaming former president Joe Biden’s policies — not his own tariffs — for driving up costs.
But consumers remain frustrated with grocery bills, and economists say import duties have directly contributed to price increases.
Experts warn that food prices could continue to rise next year as companies fully pass along the higher costs associated with tariffs.
Democrats Say Trump Is ‘Putting Out a Fire They Started’
Democrats on Capitol Hill were quick to criticize the move as a political maneuver.
Rep. Richard Neal, the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, said the administration was finally acknowledging the obvious.
“The Trump administration is putting out a fire that they started and claiming it as progress,” Neal said.
“Since implementing these tariffs, inflation has increased and manufacturing has contracted month after month.”
While the exemptions may provide some relief for consumers, the broader economic and political effects of Trump’s trade policies continue to dominate the national conversation heading into 2026.