November 15, 2025 | 10:32 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to exempt tariffs on a range of food imports, including beef, tomatoes, coffee, and bananas. The move targets products that had faced high tariffs earlier this year from nearly every country.
The White House said the order is part of a broader effort by Trump and his administration to address growing concerns among Americans over soaring food prices.
According to reports from CNA, the exemption took effect retroactively from midnight on Thursday.
The decision marks a notable reversal for Trump, who has consistently argued that his import duties do not fuel inflation. The move follows a series of Democratic victories in state and local elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City, where affordability has been a key voter concern.
Any refunds resulting from the exemption will be processed according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) procedures.
Trump’s administration had previously imposed a 10 percent tariff on imports from nearly every country, alongside additional state-specific duties, significantly affecting the global trading system.
The Friday order comes after a framework trade agreement announced Thursday, which will lift tariffs on certain foods and other goods imported from Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, and El Salvador. U.S. officials aim to finalize additional agreements before the end of the year.
In recent weeks, Trump has emphasized affordability issues, while maintaining that any rising costs are the result of policies set by former President Joe Biden, rather than his own tariffs.
Despite the exemption, consumers remain concerned about high food prices, which economists partly attribute to import tariffs. Prices could continue rising next year as companies absorb the full cost of duties.
Richard Neal, a leading Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, criticized the administration, saying it “putting out a fire that they started and claiming it as progress.”
“The Trump Administration is finally admitting publicly what we’ve all known from the start: Trump’s Trade War is hiking costs on people,” Neal said.
“Since implementing these tariffs, inflation has increased and manufacturing has contracted month after month.”
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