Trump drops tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruit as pressure builds on consumer prices

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to get rid of tariffs on a broad swath of commodities, including beef, coffee and tropical fruits. It’s part of a response to pressure from consumers who complain prices are too high.

The move comes after voters in off-year elections earlier this month cited economic concerns as their top issue, resulting in big wins for Democrats in races in Virginia and New Jersey.

Trump slapped tariffs on most countries in April. He and his administration have been long insisted that tariffs don’t increase consumer prices, despite economic evidence to the contrary.

Since December 2024, the the Chicago Sun-Times has been tracking shelf prices monthly of 35 common grocery items at four major Chicago retailers. So far, prices of most items have edged higher or remained unchanged. Prices for diapers (up $3 at Jewel and Mariano’s and $1.50 at Target), menstrual pads (up $2.50 at Jewel and $1 at Mariano’s and Target) and coffee (up $2.50 at Jewel, Mariano’s and Target) rose the most between December and this month.

Record-high beef prices have been a particular concern, and Trump has said he intended to take action to try to lower them. Trump’s tariffs on Brazil, a major beef exporter, have been a factor.

The executive order also removes tariffs on tea, fruit juice, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes and certain fertilizers. Some of the products covered aren’t produced in the United States.

The president signed the executive order after announcing that the U.S. had reached framework agreements with Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador and Argentina designed to ease import levies on agricultural products produced in those countries. Trump suggested earlier this week that he’d be lowering tariffs on coffee to help increase its importation.

Contributing: Sun-Times staff