Overview
- The change covers coffee, cacao, bananas, certain beef products, tomatoes, avocados, coconuts, oranges, pineapples, black and green tea, and spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg.
- The White House casts the step as a bid to ease grocery costs after public criticism and recent Republican electoral setbacks.
- The order takes effect immediately on a temporary basis while Treasury and the U.S. Trade Representative conduct an economic impact review.
- The move follows new trade understandings with Argentina, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Guatemala that reduce reciprocal tariffs on covered goods.
- Earlier measures included a 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee and reportedly levies above 75% on some beef, while BLS and industry data show roasted coffee at $8.41 per pound in July, supermarket prices up 12–18% year over year in September, and wholesale coffee costs rising 18–25%.