Trump โGovernance Announces Tariff Relief on Coffee,โ Beef, and Other Imported Goods
WASHINGTON โ – The Trump administration announced Friday it will remove tariffs on certain qualifying agricultural products, including coffee and beef, inโ an effort to ease cost-of-living pressures and secure supplies for U.S. companies. The move comes as prices for both commoditiesโค have risen considerably inโ recent months, impacting American consumers.
The tariff reductionsโข target goods not grown in the United States, and are part of a series of trade agreements recentlyโ unveiled with Argentina, Guatemala, Ecuador, and El Salvador. Under these reciprocal deals, Washington will also remove tariffs on certainโฃ goods the U.S. cannot sufficiently grow, mine, or produce domestically. This action signals a potential shift in the administration’s trade strategy, acknowledgingโ the impactโ of โpreviously imposed tariffs on consumer prices.
Coffee prices have jumped approximately 20 percent โขbetween august and September, driven byโ a combination ofโฃ climate shocks and existing tariffs.National Coffee Association president Bill Murray stated โthe White House moveโข will help “ease cost-of-living pressures for the two-thirds of American adults who rely on coffee eachโ day” and ensure a stable supply for U.S. businesses.
Rising beef prices, attributed to a tighter supply of cattle, are alsoโ being addressed by the tariff relief. The White House stated that “certain qualifying agricultural products will โขno longer be subject to those tariffs,โค such as certain food not grown in the United States.”
since taking โoffice in January, President Trump has implemented sweeping tariffs on goods from variousโ U.S. trading partners. While โthe administration has maintained these tariffs are intended to protect American industries, economists have warned they could contribute to inflation and hinderโ economic growth. Policymakers โhave alreadyโ noted that tariffsโ have pushed up prices on specific goods, and expect this effect to continue.
Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, acknowledged affordability concerns this week, stating, “That’sโ something that we’re going to fix, and we’re going to fix it right away.” The administration’s latest action represents a step towardsโ addressing those concerns, though the long-term impact on consumer prices and the broader economy remains to be seen.