Trump exempts key food imports from tariffs amid pressure over rising prices

New Delhi, Nov 15: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order removing tariffs on a wide range of imported food items, including coffee, bananas and certain beef products, as his administration faces growing criticism over rising grocery costs, the BBC reported.

The White House said dozens of products on the exemption list, from avocados and coconuts to spices and teas, cannot be produced domestically in sufficient quantities. The move marks a partial rollback of Trump’s sweeping 10 percent baseline tariffs on all imports, introduced to push Americans to “buy American” and narrow the trade deficit.

According to the BBC, the exemptions take effect retroactively from 13 November, and import taxes on coffee and bananas will also be reduced under new trade arrangements with Latin American partners.

The decision comes as food inflation and the soaring price of beef have become political liabilities for the administration.