US President Donald Trump on Friday gave a sigh of relief to American consumers with the announcement of cutting tariffs on a range of products such as beef, coffee, tropical fruits and other commodities. This comes as a major shift in his trade policy as the White House moves to address rising costs for US shoppers.Trump has built his second term on levying tariffs on imported goods, aiming to boost domestic production and strengthen the US economy. His decision to lift tariffs on foods central to American diets follows recent off-year elections, in which economic concerns played a decisive role, contributing to Democratic wins in Virginia, New Jersey, and other key races.
“We just did a little bit of a rollback on some foods like coffee,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while travelling to Florida hours after the announcement.
Who is really paying for US tariffs ?
When asked whether his tariffs had contributed to higher prices for Americans, the president said, “I say they may, in some cases. But to a large extent they’ve been borne by other countries,” AP cited the US president.Inflation remains high despite Trump’s repeated claims that it has disappeared since he took office in January, keeping pressure on household budgets. While the administration has argued that tariffs have primarily helped government revenues, Democrats have portrayed Friday’s move as a tacit admission that these policies have hurt American consumers.“President Trump is finally admitting what we always knew: his tariffs are raising prices for the American people,” said Virginia Democratic Rep. Don Beyer. “After getting drubbed in recent elections because of voters’ fury that Trump has broken his promises to fix inflation, the White House is trying to cast this tariff retreat as a ‘pivot to affordability.’”
Impact on grocery bills — Here’s what will get cheaper
Trump’s tariffs, imposed globally in April, have faced criticism for contributing to high prices for staples such as beef, particularly from Brazil. However, with the new tariff cuts, many producets will become more affordable for Americans.The new executive order also removes tariffs on:
- Tea
- Fruit juice
- Cocoa
- Spices
- Bananas
- Oranges
- Tomatoes
- Certain fertilisers
Many of these products are not produced domestically, meaning the tariffs had little effect on encouraging US production, but the removal is expected to ease prices for consumers.The Food Industry Association welcomed the decision, calling it “swift tariff relief” and emphasising that import taxes are “an important factor” amid broader supply chain issues. “President Trump’s proclamation to reduce tariffs on a substantial volume of food imports is a critical step ensuring continued adequate supply at prices consumers can afford,” the association said.The White House noted that some tariffs were no longer necessary due to trade agreements negotiated with key partners. Framework agreements with Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Argentina aim to boost US exports while potentially easing tariffs on agricultural products from those countries.Earlier in the week, Trump had hinted at tariff cuts in an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, saying, “Coffee, we’re going to lower some tariffs. We’re going to have some coffee come in.”
Trump’s promise of tariff payments
Trump indicated that revenue from tariffs could fund $2,000 payments for many Americans, possibly in 2026, though he did not specify a timeline. He also suggested the money could be used to reduce national debt. Defending the move against inflation concerns, Trump said, “This is money earned as opposed to money that was made up. Everybody but the rich will get this. That’s not made up. That’s real money. That comes from other countries.”
