President Donald Trump announced a significant rollback of tariffs on more than 200 food imports late Thursday, a shift aimed at easing the mounting pressures American households face from soaring grocery prices. The measure reverses Trump’s earlier position on the impact of tariffs, which he had repeatedly asserted did not contribute to inflation.
The new exemptions, effective retroactively from midnight on Thursday, cover a wide range of products, including essential items such as coffee, beef, bananas, and orange juice. The decision comes amid heightened concerns from Americans about the affordability of everyday essentials, as many of these foods have recorded double-digit price hikes over the past year.
Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One late Friday, President Trump acknowledged that tariffs “may in some cases” contribute to higher prices. However, he maintained that the nation was experiencing “virtually no inflation.”
The list of exempted items includes a spectrum of goods, from basic groceries such as oranges and coffee to ingredients and materials like acai berries, paprika, cocoa, food production chemicals, fertilizers, and even communion wafers. According to statements from the administration, exemptions were granted for certain foods not produced domestically, and in light of recent trade and investment agreements finalized by the U.S. government.
The administration clarified that the exemptions followed the successful conclusion of nine framework trade agreements, two finalized reciprocal trade deals, and two separate investment pacts, making certain food imports eligible for relief from import duties.
