Politics

Trump Slashes Tariffs on Key Imports: Will Consumers See Relief from Rising Prices?

Trump cut tariffs on ag imports (beef, tomatoes, coffee, bananas) due to consumer costs & economic woes.

byEditorial Staff

November 15, 2025, 9:13 AM

Two large container ships docked in the Port of Hamburg with the Köhlbrand Bridge in the background at sunset.

Container ships and cranes dominate the waters near the Köhlbrand Bridge. By MDL.

Executive Summary

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to retroactively reduce tariffs on several agricultural imports, including beef, tomatoes, coffee, and bananas.

The tariff reductions aim to address growing American consumer concerns over affordability and follow recent voter frustrations regarding the economy.

The Trump administration also announced a new trade framework with the Swiss government to reduce tariffs on goods imported from Switzerland from 39% to 15%.

The Story So Far

President Donald Trump’s executive order to retroactively reduce tariffs on several agricultural imports, including beef, tomatoes, coffee, and bananas, is a direct response to growing American consumer concerns over affordability and recent voter frustrations regarding the state of the economy. This action addresses the significant price increases on key imported goods, which were partly caused by previously imposed “reciprocal” tariffs and a lack of sufficient domestic supply for items like coffee and bananas, necessitating reliance on foreign suppliers.

Why This Matters

President Donald Trump’s executive order to retroactively reduce tariffs on key agricultural imports, including coffee and bananas, directly addresses growing consumer concerns over affordability and voter frustration with the economy, potentially offering some relief from price increases on these goods. This move, alongside new trade frameworks, signals a recalibration of the administration’s trade policies aimed at easing economic pressures and adjusting international relationships.

Who Thinks What?

President Donald Trump’s administration issued an executive order to retroactively reduce tariffs on several agricultural imports, including beef, tomatoes, coffee, and bananas, and announced a new trade framework with Switzerland, aiming to address consumer affordability concerns and recalibrate international trade relationships.

American consumers are expressing growing concerns over affordability and have shown frustrations regarding the state of the economy, which has been impacted by price increases on imported goods partly attributed to previously imposed tariffs.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, November 14, 2025, to retroactively reduce tariffs on several agricultural imports, including beef, tomatoes, coffee, and bananas. The directive, which is backdated to Thursday, comes as American consumers express growing concerns over affordability and follows recent voter frustrations regarding the state of the economy.

Tariff Reductions and Economic Context

The executive order exempts the specified goods from “reciprocal” tariff rates, which previously ranged from 10% to 50%. While this action lowers the tariff burden, it does not eliminate tariffs entirely on these commodities.

For instance, tomatoes imported from Mexico, a significant supplier to the United States, will continue to face a 17% tariff. This rate was implemented in July after a nearly three-decade-old trade agreement expired, leading to immediate increases in tomato prices.

Many of the commodities now benefiting from reduced “reciprocal” tariffs have experienced substantial price increases since Trump took office. These increases have been partly attributed to previously imposed tariffs and a lack of sufficient domestic supply. Coffee from Brazil, the largest supplier to the U.S., had faced 50% tariffs since August, contributing to a nearly 20% year-over-year rise in consumer coffee prices by September, according to Consumer Price Index data.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previewed the executive order earlier in the week, stating that the measures targeted goods “we don’t grow here in the United States,” specifically mentioning coffee and bananas. Although coffee is cultivated in some parts of the country, the vast majority of U.S. supply is imported.

Broader Trade Engagements

Earlier on Friday, the Trump administration and the Swiss government announced a new trade framework. This agreement aims to reduce tariffs on goods imported from Switzerland from 39% to 15%, addressing a rate that was among the highest applied to any country with which the U.S. trades.

These tariff adjustments by the Trump administration appear to be a direct response to economic pressures and public sentiment. The actions aim to address consumer affordability concerns regarding key imported goods and to recalibrate international trade relationships.