US exempts 200+ agricultural products from reciprocal tariffs
Coffee, tea, tropical fruits and fruit juices are now exempt from the 10% global tariff and similar country-specific duties implemented by President Donald Trump earlier this year.
Since April, many agricultural products have been subject to a minimum 10% global tariff — or more, in some countries’ cases — as part of the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariff policy. However, over the past few months, the administration has periodically adjusted the list of products that are subject to those tariffs.
The White House said the agricultural exemptions result from the administration’s progress on various trade deals, including with countries that produce agricultural goods not commonly grown in the United States.
In the past few months, the U.S. has formalized trade agreements with Cambodia and Malaysia, while reaching “framework” deals or otherwise announcing progress on deals with El Salvador, Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, Thailand, Vietnam, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the European Union, according to the fact sheet.
For example, in 2024, Guatemala was the top exporter of fresh and dried bananas to the U.S. and the second-largest exporter of tropical fruits — two products that are now excluded from reciprocal tariffs, according to data compiled by Supply Chain Dive. Similarly, in 2024, Thailand and Vietnam were the top two exporters of single-fruit juices, which includes coconut water, to the United States.
Food industry trade associations have frequently called on the Trump administration to exclude certain products from tariffs, due to sourcing limitations. In September, for example, the Consumer Brands Association asked the administration to update its tariff exclusions to include tin mill steel.
“As the largest domestic manufacturing sector by workforce, the consumer packaged goods industry proudly sources 90 percent of ingredients and inputs from American farmers and suppliers, but certain ingredients and agricultural commodities are simply unavailable domestically due to climate conditions, geography and other factors,” the Consumer Brands Association said in a statement at the time.
In August, FMI — The Food Industry Association, which represents businesses including grocery store operators and food wholesalers, said it intended to work with federal officials to create an “exemption process that excludes those [imported] foods where tariffing them doesn’t benefit U.S. industry,” such as cocoa, cinnamon and bananas.
On Friday, the trade group issued a statement praising the Trump administration’s latest actions.
“Many factors impact the price of food on grocery store shelves – including weather and crop yields, energy and transportation costs, packaging, and labor, among many others. Tariffs are an important factor in this complex mix of supply chain effects. 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,” FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin said in the statement.
