Trump Governance Rolls Back Tariffs on Food Imports amid Rising Consumer Costs
WASHINGTON – In a reversal of his earlier trade policies, former President Donald Trump has authorized cuts to tariffs on food imports from several countries, including a significant reduction on goods from Switzerland. The move comes as the administration faces mounting pressure over persistent high grocery prices and growing concerns about the economic impact of its previously imposed tariffs.
Earlier this year, Trump implemented a blanket 10% base tariff on imports from all nations, supplemented by additional, state-specific duties. FridayS orders signal a shift in strategy, following the announcement of a deal to lower US tariffs on Switzerland from 39% to 15% under a new trade pact. Similar framework trade deals are in progress to eliminate tariffs on certain foods and other items imported from Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, and El Salvador, with further agreements anticipated before the end of the year.
The policy change arrives as Trump increasingly emphasizes affordability, attributing any price increases to policies enacted by the Biden administration rather than his own tariff measures. However, economists point to import tariffs as a key driver of elevated grocery costs, warning they could continue to rise as companies pass on the full impact of the duties to consumers.
A Harris poll conducted for the Guardian last month revealed that a majority of Americans report a monthly cost increase between $100 and $749.
“The Trump administration is putting out a fire that they started and claiming it as progress,” stated Richard Neal, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, in a released statement. “The Trump administration is finally admitting publicly what we’ve all known from the start: Trump’s trade war is hiking costs on people. Since implementing these tariffs, inflation has increased and manufacturing has contracted month after month.”
