US President Trump exempts beef, other key food imports from tariffs

USA – President Donald Trump has removed tariffs on a variety of food and beverage products, including beef, cocoa, and coffee, reversing measures introduced earlier this year.

The original tariffs imposed a baseline 10% tax on imports from all trading partners, with some goods subject to additional levies, as part of an effort to reduce trade deficits and address perceived imbalances in US trade relationships.

The White House issued an Executive Order exempting certain agricultural products from the tariffs, citing limited domestic production capacity as the reason for the adjustment.

The exemptions, applied retroactively from 13 November 2025, cover beef, tropical fruits and fruit juices, coffee and tea, cocoa, spices including vanilla, as well as various nuts and grains.

The change responds to concerns that the US cattle industry is unable to produce sufficient beef to meet domestic demand, a situation worsened by a recent drought and long-term structural weaknesses in the sector.

Bill Bullard, CEO of R-Calf USA, said the order addresses supply shortages caused by decades of trade policies and the concentration of the meatpacking industry among a few large companies, which he argued has led to higher consumer prices despite falling cattle prices.

Bullard added that the industry needs to expand and regain competitive market dynamics so that both cattle producers and consumers can rely on fair pricing rather than monopoly influence or imports from unlabeled foreign beef.

Hershey, a major US chocolate manufacturer, welcomed the exemption of cocoa, noting that the ingredient is not grown domestically and is vital for maintaining manufacturing operations that support over 10,000 American jobs.

The National Coffee Association also expressed approval, with CEO Bill Murray highlighting that removing reciprocal tariffs on coffee imports will ease costs for the two-thirds of Americans who consume coffee daily and support US economic value generated through coffee processing.

Murray further acknowledged new trade agreements with Switzerland, Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala, which are expected to benefit the US coffee supply chain.

The rollback comes amid scrutiny over rising food and beverage prices in the US, with the administration facing criticism that earlier tariffs contributed to increased costs, a claim President Trump has rejected.

Last week, Trump instructed the Department of Justice to investigate major meatpacking firms over potential price manipulation in the beef market, signaling continued concern over domestic supply and market competition.

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