US President Donald Trump has signed an order to lower tariffs on agricultural imports such as beef, coffee, bananas, and tomatoes, amid growing pressure from voters grappling with rising grocery store prices.
In a bid to ease cost-of-living pressures, the White House has exempted certain food products from its "reciprocal" tariffs, which were initially introduced in April to address trade imbalances. The exemptions are now backdated, meaning they technically took effect on Thursday.
The move comes as coffee prices have jumped by around 20 percent since August, and banana prices rose by about 7 percent. Tomato prices have also increased by 1 percent. Ground beef, a staple in many American households, has become more expensive, with prices rising by nearly 13 percent.
National Coffee Association president Bill Murray welcomed the White House's decision, saying it would "ease cost-of-living pressures for the two-thirds of American adults who rely on coffee each day" and secure supplies for US companies. The exemption will help alleviate some pressure on consumers' wallets at a time when many are feeling the pinch.
The news comes as part of a broader effort to address affordability concerns, which have been a key issue in recent elections. Trump's top economic advisor has acknowledged that tariffs have contributed to higher prices, and promised to take action.
"Their efforts will help bring down prices for American consumers," said Hassett this week. "That's something that we're going to fix, and we're going to fix it right away."
The decision is also seen as part of a larger trade policy shift by the Trump administration, which has been stepping up efforts to convince Americans of the economy's strength.
In a bid to ease cost-of-living pressures, the White House has exempted certain food products from its "reciprocal" tariffs, which were initially introduced in April to address trade imbalances. The exemptions are now backdated, meaning they technically took effect on Thursday.
The move comes as coffee prices have jumped by around 20 percent since August, and banana prices rose by about 7 percent. Tomato prices have also increased by 1 percent. Ground beef, a staple in many American households, has become more expensive, with prices rising by nearly 13 percent.
National Coffee Association president Bill Murray welcomed the White House's decision, saying it would "ease cost-of-living pressures for the two-thirds of American adults who rely on coffee each day" and secure supplies for US companies. The exemption will help alleviate some pressure on consumers' wallets at a time when many are feeling the pinch.
The news comes as part of a broader effort to address affordability concerns, which have been a key issue in recent elections. Trump's top economic advisor has acknowledged that tariffs have contributed to higher prices, and promised to take action.
"Their efforts will help bring down prices for American consumers," said Hassett this week. "That's something that we're going to fix, and we're going to fix it right away."
The decision is also seen as part of a larger trade policy shift by the Trump administration, which has been stepping up efforts to convince Americans of the economy's strength.
. i think it's a decent move to ease cost-of-living pressures for americans who are feeling the pinch, especially with coffee prices jumping by 20 percent since august 
. it's great that bill murray from the national coffee association welcomed the decision, as it will undoubtedly help alleviate some pressure on consumers' wallets at this critical juncture 
. meanwhile, the move is also seen as part of a broader effort to address affordability concerns and convince americans that the economy is strong 
. overall, i think it's a step in the right direction, even if the exact details of the trade policy shift are still unclear 
.
meanwhile banana prices have gone up 7 percent?! what even is happening with that? i'm all for cheaper groceries tho, it's literally affecting every single person in america right now. i hope this helps a lil bit, but also idk when it'll affect the prices again 
the economy is wild rn
Guess we'll just have to keep an eye on it and hope for the best #TariffRelief #CoffeeLover #BananaFrenzy
. It's interesting to see how this decision might impact the US economy as a whole, particularly in terms of trade policy and its effects on domestic industries 
. Overall, it seems like President Trump is trying to address affordability concerns and alleviate some pressure on consumers' expenses 
! Just imagine sipping on a cup of coffee without breaking the bank! Interesting 
how much of a difference this can make for regular people. Bananas are already getting cheaper? That's some sweet news 
!
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. I mean, who doesn't hate seeing their grocery bills skyrocketing like it is? This is a win for everyday folks trying to make ends meet 
. But now, at least there's some relief in sight 
. Coffee lovers can finally breathe easy again 
. It's all about the people, folks! 
coffee prices have gone thru roof in past few months and banana prices r not far behind 
It's about time we saw some relief for our grocery store bills. I mean, who hasn't struggled with rising prices for their fave foods? 
Coffee lovers rejoice! 
13% price hike? That's just a no-go for my Sunday BBQ plans 
. Kudos to President Trump and the White House for taking action & listening to voters' concerns. We need more of this kind of change in our economy 
... I mean, have you seen coffee prices lately? 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good burger or fresh tomato salad? And for coffee lovers like me 
. So here's to Trump's decision: may it bring some relief to our wallets 
.