Tags:
Journalism of Courage
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday rolled back tariffs on dozens of food products, including such staples as beef, tomatoes and bananas, in the face of growing angst among American consumers about the high cost of groceries.
The new exemptions – which take effect retroactively at midnight on Thursday – mark a sharp reversal for Trump, who has long insisted that the sweeping import duties he imposed earlier this year are not fueling inflation. Democrats have won a string of victories in state and local elections in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City, where affordability was a key topic.
The Trump administration announced framework trade deals on Thursday that, once finalized, will eliminate tariffs on certain foods and other imports from Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala and El Salvador, with U.S. officials eyeing additional agreements before year’s end.
Friday’s list includes products U.S. consumers routinely purchase to feed their families at home, many of which have seen double-digit year-over-year price increases.
Ground beef, as of the latest available data for September, was nearly 13% more expensive, according to Consumer Price Index data, and steaks cost almost 17% more than a year ago. Increases for both were the largest in more than three years, dating back to when inflation was nearing its peak under Trump’s predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden.
