Trump scraps tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruit in a push to lower grocery store prices

WASHINGTON AP President Donald Trump reported Friday that he was scrapping U S tariffs on beef coffee tropical fruits and a broad swath of other commodities a dramatic move that comes amid mounting pressure on his administration to better combat high consumer prices Trump has built his second term around imposing steep levies on goods imported into the U S in hopes of encouraging domestic production and lifting the U S market His abrupt retreat from his signature tariff initiative on so plenty of staples key to the American diet is important and it comes after voters in off-year elections this month cited economic concerns as their top issue resulting in big wins for Democrats in Virginia New Jersey and other key races around the country Inflation despite Trump s pronouncements that it has vanished since he took office in January remains elevated further increasing pressure on U S consumers The Trump administration has insisted that its tariffs had helped fill executive coffers and weren t a major factor in higher prices at grocery stores around the country But Democrats were quick to paint Friday s move as an acknowledgement that Trump s policies were hurting American pocketbooks President Trump is ultimately admitting what we perpetually knew his tariffs are raising prices for the American people Virginia Democratic Rep Don Beyer revealed in a declaration After getting drubbed in modern elections because of voters fury that Trump has broken his promises to fix inflation the White House is trying to cast this tariff retreat as a pivot to affordability ' Trump slapped tariffs on bulk countries around the globe in April He and his administration still say that tariffs don t increase consumer prices despite economic evidence to the contrary Record-high beef prices have been a particular concern and Trump had reported he intended to take action to try and lower them Trump s tariffs on Brazil a major beef exporter had been a factor Trump signed an executive order that also removes tariffs on tea fruit juice cocoa spices bananas oranges tomatoes and certain fertilizers Various of the products covered aren t produced in the United States meaning that tariffs meant to spur domestic production had little effect But reducing the tariffs will still likely mean lower prices for U S consumers The Food Industry Association which represents retailers producers and a variety of related industry firms and services applauded Trump s move to provide swift tariff relief noting that import U S taxes are an significant factor in a complex mix of supply chain issues 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 the association mentioned in a declaration In explaining the tariff reductions the White House disclosed Friday that particular of the original levies Trump relished imposing on nearly every country on earth months ago were truly no longer necessary given the commerce agreements he d since hammered out with key U S trading partners Indeed Friday s announcement follows the Trump administration having reached framework agreements with Ecuador Guatemala El Salvador and Argentina meant to increase the ability of U S firms to sell industrial and agricultural products in these countries while also potentially easing tariffs on agricultural products produced there During an interview that aired earlier in the week with Laura Ingraham of Fox News Channel Trump hinted that lower tariffs might be coming Coffee we re going to lower specific tariffs the president declared then We re going to have various coffee come in