US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that rolls back his “Liberation Day” tariffs on more than 200 food products amid concerns about high inflation among consumers.
The tariff exemptions, announced on 14 November, cover a range of grocery items, including beef, coffee and tea, fruit juices, cocoa and spices, bananas, oranges and tomatoes, as well as some fertilisers, the White House said in a statement.
“Many of the announced trade deals and ongoing negotiations involve countries that produce substantial columns of agricultural products that are not grown or produced in sufficient quantities in the United States,” the White House added.
“The president has thus determined that certain agricultural products shall no longer be subject to the reciprocal tariffs.”
The move follows an announcement on 13 November by the White House that the US had reached framework agreements with Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and Guatemala to reduce tariffs on some food exports, such as beef, bananas and coffee beans.
In April, Trump declared that the US trade deficit constituted a national emergency under the Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), allowing him to impose sweeping tariffs against more than 90 countries.
The tariffs, which range from a baseline of 10% to 50%, came into effect on 7 August, despite months of reversals and global market chaos.
They have also led businesses that import goods into the US to raise prices across a range of goods, prompting criticism that Trump had broken a campaign promise that inflation would ease and prices for goods and services would fall.
“[President Trump’s] action should help consumers, whose morning cup of coffee will hopefully become more affordable, as well as US manufacturers, which utilise many of these products in their supply chains and production lines,” said Leslie G. Sarasin, the CEO of FMI – The Food Industry Association, a US trade body that represents the food retail and wholesale sector.
“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,” Sarasin added.
However, Trump’s tariffs are being challenged in the Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments on 5 November that the president does not have the legal authority to impose tariffs without congressional approval.
Meanwhile, the White House also announced on 14 November that the US, Switzerland and Liechtenstein had reached a framework trade agreement that will see Trump’s tariffs reduced from 39% to 15%.
In return, Swiss and Liechtenstein companies have agreed to invest US$200bn in the US, with at least US$67bn of that total occurring in 2026, according to the statement.
The three countries are expected to finalise the agreement in the first quarter of 2026.