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President Donald Trump on Friday narrowed the reach of his global tariff policy, removing duties on several grocery staples as the administration confronted growing public frustration over persistent food costs. A Nov. 14 executive order said new recommendations and progress in trade negotiations made it “necessary and appropriate to further modify the scope” of products covered by the tariffs.
The directive also stated that “certain agricultural products shall not be subject to the reciprocal tariff imposed under Executive 14257, as amended.”
The move adjusts portions of the “reciprocal tariffs” Trump introduced in April under his “Liberation Day” national emergency declaration, which focused on reducing trade deficits, the Daily Caller reported.
A White House fact sheet released with the order states “certain qualifying agricultural products will no longer be subject to those tariffs, such as certain food not grown in the United States.” Specifically affected items include “coffee and tea; tropical fruits and fruit juices; cocoa and spices; bananas, oranges, and tomatoes; beef; and additional fertilizers.”
Hours after the order was announced, Trump described the change as a targeted adjustment. “We just did a little bit of a rollback on some foods like coffee,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Asked if the tariffs contributed to higher food prices, Trump acknowledged that it was likely “I say they may, in some cases,” but he added, “to a large extent they’ve been borne by other countries.”
The rollbacks come as prices for key grocery items continue to climb, including an 18.9% increase in roasted coffee, a 12.9% rise in ground beef, and a 6.9% increase in bananas compared with September 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index data.
The revised tariff order marks a notable shift in President Trump’s second-term economic strategy, which has centered on sweeping global import duties aimed at bolstering U.S. manufacturing. The move also follows a series of Democratic victories in November’s off-year elections, in which concerns about the cost of living played a significant role among voters, the Caller added.
That said, the victories were mostly all in solid blue areas, leaving some political analysts to question whether they were really a rejection of Trump and Republicans.
Democrats claimed the rollback validated their opposition to the tariffs. “President Trump is finally admitting what we always knew: his tariffs are raising prices for the American people,” Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia wrote in a statement Friday. He further claimed that, after recent electoral losses, “the White House is trying to cast this tariff retreat as a ‘pivot to affordability.’”
The Food Industry Association resoundingly applauded Trump for signing a presidential order that reduces tariffs on food and agricultural products.
“FMI is grateful and extremely pleased at President’s Trump’s actions to cut tariffs on a wide swathe of food and agriculture products,” the organization said in a statement posted to its website. “Today’s action should help consumers, whose morning cup of coffee will hopefully become more affordable, as well as U.S. manufacturers, which utilize many of these products in their supply chains and production lines.
“Many factors impact the price of food on grocery store shelves – including weather and crop yields, energy and transportation costs, packaging, and labor, among many others. Tariffs are an important factor in this complex mix of supply chain effects. 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 statement added.
“FMI wholeheartedly applauds President Trump’s efforts to provide swift tariff relief on certain food products to help ensure they remain as affordable as possible and accessible for American consumers,” the org continued.
“We fully support the administration’s economic objectives to enhance American competitiveness and affordability and stand ready to serve as a resource on how trade policies affect both consumer costs and the resilience of our nation’s food supply chain.”
