Trump Administration Scraps Tariffs on 237 Imported Food and Agricultural Items

In a significant trade policy shift, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on 14 November 2025, removing retaliatory tariffs on hundreds of imported foodstuffs and agricultural products, the White House announced.

The order, published on the official White House website, modifies the reciprocal tariff policy enacted on 2 April. It grants a full exemption from import duties for 237 specific product lines.

Key Details of the Exemption

Under the new measure, these products, which previously faced retaliatory tariff rates of between 5% and 25%, will see those additional duties eliminated. Only the base most-favoured-nation tariff rate will now apply.

The policy is applied retroactively, effective for goods entering the US for consumption from 00:01 Eastern Standard Time on 13 November 2025.

Scope of Affected Products

The exemptions target imported goods that are not produced, or are difficult to produce on a large scale, within the United States. The list encompasses hundreds of tariff lines across several categories of the Harmonized System (HS), including:

• Chapter 02 (Meat)

• Chapter 07 (Vegetables)

• Chapter 08 (Fruit and Nuts)

• Chapter 09 (Coffee, Tea, and Spices)

• Chapter 18 (Cocoa)

• Chapter 20 (Fruit Juices)

Analysis of Key Exempted Categories

• Meat: Beef imports, including ground beef and cuts such as steaks, primarily from Argentina and Australia, are included. Price reductions of 5% to 10% are anticipated following the exemption.

• Beverages and Ingredients: The order covers coffee, tea, and cocoa for chocolate production. Major sources include Brazil and Vietnam for coffee, and West African nations for cocoa.

• Tropical Fruits: A significant portion of the list, over 40%, consists of hundreds of tropical fruit varieties such as bananas, mangoes, avocados, pineapples, coconuts, and nuts like almonds and cashews. These are largely sourced from Ecuador and Guatemala.

• Citrus Fruits: Oranges, orange juice, and other citrus products, mainly imported from Latin America and other regions outside of Florida, are included.

• Vegetables: Tomatoes and tomato products, predominantly imported from Mexico, are exempted.

• Processed Items: The list covers various fruit juices and processed products, including tropical fruit juices and orange juice, reducing their tariffs to zero.

• Condiments and Spices: Exemptions apply to spices such as nutmeg, turmeric, and cloves, and cocoa powder, primarily sourced from India and Indonesia.

• Other Agricultural Products: Certain fertilisers, including phosphate and potash, and some bread ingredients like imported flour supplements, are also on the list.

Products Not Included

The White House confirmed that alcoholic beverages, such as whisky and spirits, remain subject to retaliatory tariffs. Certain domestically dominant products, including maize and soybeans, will also continue to face additional duties.

Stated Policy Objectives

The administration stated the primary objective is to focus on goods that cannot be viably mass-produced in the US. Officials said the move is designed to reduce grocery expenditure for American consumers, addressing what the White House termed an 'affordability crisis', arguing that the previous tariffs were a factor driving up food prices.