Trump Eases Tariffs on Key Ag Imports After Trade Breakthroughs

White House modifies reciprocal tariff regime to exclude coffee, tropical fruits, beef, and other products amid expanding global trade deals

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President Donald Trump on Friday signed an Executive Order (link) and fact sheet (link) removing a wide range of agricultural goods from the scope of his reciprocal tariffs, following a string of major trade agreements that the administration says have strengthened U.S. economic and national security interests.

The move marks the latest revision to the sweeping tariff program first unveiled on April 2, 2025, which sought to counter persistent U.S. trade deficits and the lack of reciprocity in many bilateral trading relationships. Under the new order, several agricultural products — particularly those not grown in the United States or not produced in sufficient quantities domestically — will be exempt from reciprocal tariffs beginning Nov. 13.

Adjusting Tariffs to Match New Trade Realities

Friday’s action represents the third major modification to the tariff regime since spring. The White House said the changes reflect “substantial progress” in reciprocal trade negotiations, including nine framework agreements, two finalized reciprocal trade deals, and two investment agreements reached over the last several months.

The exemptions apply to “certain qualifying agricultural products,” including:

• coffee and tea
• tropical fruits and fruit juices
• cocoa and spices
• bananas, oranges, and tomatoes (see related box on tomatoes)
• beef (see box below for some details on Argentina and Brazil) 
• additional fertilizers (some of which had never been tariffed)

These products have now been added to Annex II of Executive Order 14257 and, where relevant, removed from the administration’s “Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners” (PTAAP) Annex. The PTAAP list—which still includes certain natural resources, aircraft parts, and pharmaceutical inputs—remains a tool for future tariff adjustments tied to new trade and security deals.

Trade Deals Driving Policy Shifts

White House officials say the tariff modifications are a direct result of improved trade relationships with partner nations. Many of the countries engaged in new agreements are major exporters of agricultural goods that the United States itself does not produce in meaningful quantities.

The administration highlights several agreements concluded or advanced in 2025:
 

• Malaysia and Cambodia: Full reciprocal trade agreements.
  • Cambodia will eliminate tariffs on 100% of U.S. industrial and agricultural goods.
  • Malaysia will reduce barriers on U.S. exports of vehicles, machinery, dairy, and poultry.
• Latin American partners: Frameworks with El Salvador, Argentina, Ecuador, and Guatemala.
• Asia and Europe: Frameworks with Thailand and Vietnam; U.K./EU negotiations; investment agreements with Japan and South Korea.
   

A landmark deal with the European Union commits the bloc to purchase $750 billion in U.S. energy and invest $600 billion in the United States by 2028, while the EU accepts a 15% tariff and charges zero tariffs on American companies in return.
 

A Strategy of Pressure and Incentives

Administration officials say the tariff program remains central to President Trump’s strategy to leverage tough measures while offering tariff relief to partners agreeing to more open and reciprocal relationships.

The White House argues that:

• Tariffs have incentivized manufacturing investments in the United States.
• Tailored trade agreements are dismantling longstanding barriers.
• Strategic alignment with partner economies is advancing both U.S. economic and national security objectives.
   

The administration also says these policies have contributed to “billions in reshoring investments,” bolstering U.S. supply chains and reviving domestic manufacturing.

Looking Ahead

The White House emphasized that the modified tariff lists may be updated again as additional trade deals are completed. The administration remains open to removing reciprocal tariffs on more products — especially natural resources and industrial inputs — `if countries agree to U.S. terms on trade and security.

“President Trump will continue to use all available tools,” the fact sheet states, “to protect our national security, advance our economic interests, and uphold a system of trade based in fairness and reciprocity.”

Trump’s Tariff Shift Opens Door to Cheaper Argentine and Brazilian Beef White House exemption removes reciprocal tariffs but leaves quotas, inspections, and sanitary rules unchanged President Donald Trump’s latest Executive Order removing beef from the administration’s reciprocal tariff regime represents a significant shift in U.S. trade and food-price strategy — one that could bring lower-cost Argentine and Brazilian beef into the U.S. market while leaving long-standing health and quota restrictions firmly intact. The move comes at a time when U.S. cattle herds are at 75-year lows, domestic beef prices are at record highs, and the administration is facing growing political pressure to address grocery inflation. By removing beef from the sweeping reciprocal tariffs announced earlier this year, the White House is effectively lowering the tariff burden on two of the world’s largest beef exporters. Reciprocal Tariffs No Longer Apply to Argentine or Brazilian Beef Before this week’s action, Argentine and Brazilian beef had been subject to the reciprocal tariff program launched April 2, 2025 — an aggressive framework aimed at countries with large bilateral trade imbalances with the United States. The new Executive Order removes beef entirely from that tariff list. This means:No reciprocal tariff will apply to Argentine beef exports.No reciprocal tariff will apply to Brazilian beef exports.Landed import costs for both countries’ beef will fall.  The change immediately alters the pricing calculus for importers and retailers, particularly during a period of historically tight U.S. cattle supplies.  Domestic Price Pressure Drove the Policy Shift Beef has become one of the most politically sensitive grocery categories in 2025:Retail beef prices are near all-time highs.Cattle numbers continue to fall due to drought, liquidation, and high feed costs.Packers have reported operating losses due to scarce cattle availability.  By removing reciprocal tariffs, the administration aims to ease retail prices by increasing available supply — consistent with similar exemptions on coffee, bananas, tropical fruits, and tomatoes. But Key Restrictions Remain: Tariff Removal Isn’t a Free Pass Even with tariffs removed, Argentine and Brazilian beef shipments are still governed by restrictions that the new Executive Order does not touch, including:  1. QuotasArgentine beef is still constrained by the Hilton quota and other WTO-managed allocations.Brazil’s access remains partially limited by existing quota structures.(Nor does it remove the tariffs that apply to beef shipped above quota levels)2. Sanitary and Safety RulesFSIS inspection requirements remain unchanged.Historical suspensions of Brazilian fresh beef—due to safety or compliance findings—can still be imposed.All fresh beef must meet U.S. equivalence standards before entry.3. Health-Based Import ControlsFoot-and-mouth disease (FMD) protocols remain fully intact. Regions lacking FMD-free status cannot ship fresh beef into the United States, tariffs or no tariffs.4. Authority to Pause or Restrict ImportsUSDA retains power to halt or restrict imports at any time due to safety, compliance failures, or disease concerns.  In short: tariff removal does not guarantee market access.  A Strategic Move Within Broader Trade Negotiations The timing and scope of the beef exemption reflect the administration’s larger diplomatic maneuvering:  ArgentinaCurrently pursuing a reciprocal trade framework with Washington.Trump has openly signaled interest in expanding Argentine beef imports to relieve U.S. price pressure.The exemption strengthens momentum toward a U.S./Argentina deal.  BrazilIn preliminary talks on its own trade arrangement with the United States.Exempting beef provides Brasília with a clear incentive to advance negotiations.The action dovetails with reported improvements in bilateral dialogue following months of tension.  The White House is using tariff relief as both reward and leverage.  A Boost for Packers and Retailers, A Shift for Cattle Markets  Removing tariffs on Argentina and Brazil:Lowers import costsBroadens packer sourcing optionsEases pressure on retail beef pricesHelps stabilize protein inflationIncreases supply during a prolonged U.S. cattle shortage  While U.S. cattle ranchers may be wary of expanded import competition, the remaining quota and sanitary barriers significantly limit potential volumes —a nd ensure that any imported beef meets strict U.S. standards. Bottom LinePresident Trump’s decision to exempt beef from the reciprocal tariff regime opens the U.S. market to more competitively priced Argentine and Brazilian product at a moment when domestic supplies are historically tight. But the move does not eliminate longstanding quotas, sanitary rules, or safety-based import controls. The tariff change reduces costs — but not the regulatory hurdles that have long defined U.S. beef import policy.

Why Tomato Safeguards Remain Intact Despite Trump’s Tariff Rollback Longstanding U.S./Mexico suspension agreement continues to protect Florida growers even as tomatoes exit the reciprocal tariff regime Even though President Donald Trump’s new Executive Order removes tomatoes from the administration’s reciprocal tariff program, the United States continues to maintain a separate — and powerful — set of protection mechanisms governing fresh tomato imports from Mexico. These safeguards operate independently of the reciprocal tariffs and remain fully in force, ensuring that domestic producers remain shielded from unfair trade practices. A Separate Safeguard System That Outlives Tariff Changes At the center of the protective framework is the U.S./Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement, a long-standing mechanism that regulates import pricing and prevents Mexican tomatoes from undercutting U.S. growers. The agreement:Establishes minimum reference prices for imported tomatoesImplements seasonal price floors to protect sensitive harvest windowsAllows U.S. growers to trigger dumping or safeguard investigationsPermits the suspension of imports if exporters violate agreement terms  Renegotiated several times — most recently in 2019 — the agreement remains one of the most entrenched safeguard structures in U.S. agricultural trade. Designed to Protect Florida and Southeastern Tomato Growers Florida’s tomato industry, which competes directly with winter and early-spring shipments from Mexico, has long advocated for strong protections. The suspension agreement serves as the backbone of that defense. The safeguards also include:Inspections on up to 92% of Mexican tomato importsAnti-dumping duty collection if prices fall below the agreed minimumAuthority to terminate the agreement and reinstate full anti-dumping duties if violations occur These measures are entirely separate from the reciprocal tariff authority and are unaffected by the tariff modifications announced this week. Removing Tomatoes from Reciprocal Tariffs Does Not Remove These Protections The White House’s fact sheet simply states that tomatoes are “no longer subject to the reciprocal tariffs.” That change applies only to the global reciprocity tariff schedule created earlier this year.  It does not eliminate:anti-dumping dutiessuspension agreement enforcementseasonal safeguard mechanismsminimum import price requirements  All remain fully available to the Department of Commerce, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and domestic producer groups. Why the Administration Could Safely Exempt Tomatoes Two key factors allow the White House to remove tomatoes from the reciprocal tariff program without jeopardizing domestic growers:  1. The existing safeguard system already covers seasonal underpricing.The Tomato Suspension Agreement is one of the most robust and institutionalized trade-remedy structures in U.S. agriculture. It provides more targeted protection than reciprocal tariffs were ever designed to deliver.2. The tariff modification aims to lower grocery costs, not alter grower protections. Tomatoes are a staple, high-frequency grocery item. Exempting them from reciprocal tariffs helps reduce price pressures for consumers while the suspension agreement continues to deter unfair import pricing. Bottom Line  Tomato safeguards remain firmly in place. Removing tomatoes from Trump’s reciprocal tariff regime does not dismantle the U.S. anti-dumping or seasonal safeguard system. The Tomato Suspension Agreement — a longstanding protective structure — continues to govern tomato imports, ensuring domestic growers remain protected even as the administration adjusts its broader tariff strategy.

Analysis: Trump’s Tariff Rollback Marks Strategic Pivot Toward Price Relief and Targeted Trade Alliances White House exempts coffee, fruits, beef and fertilizers from reciprocal tariffs as administration retools trade policy to support affordability and cement global partnerships President Donald Trump’s decision to lift reciprocal tariffs on a range of agricultural imports marks a significant shift in the administration’s trade strategy — one that blends domestic political pressures with a broader geopolitical effort to realign global supply chains around U.S.-friendly partners. The newly exempted products, including coffee, tropical fruits, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, beef, and select fertilizers, are no longer subject to the global reciprocal tariffs first imposed in April 2025. The White House says the adjustment reflects “substantial progress” in trade negotiations this year, as the administration has secured nine framework accords, two full reciprocal trade deals, and two investment agreements. But beneath the legal language, the revised tariff list underscores a deeper recalibration of how the administration is applying trade pressure — and where it is willing to ease off. A Political Play for Grocery Price Relief The timing and substance of the exclusions point directly to domestic political concerns. Several of the delisted products — coffee, bananas, fruit juices, cocoa, tomatoes — are high-frequency grocery purchases that have borne some of the tariff-related price pressure. As voters increasingly cite everyday affordability as a top concern, the White House appears to be recalibrating. Removing tariffs on products that the U.S. does not grow, or produces only in limited quantities, is a practical move to blunt grocery inflation. Beef’s inclusion is notable as well, coming amid record cattle-market tightness and political pressure over rising prices. The administration presents the decision as a follow-on to new trade deals, but the economic effect is unmistakable: grocery prices should fall, at least marginally, in the months ahead. Tariffs Become a Negotiating Tool, not a Universal Policy The original reciprocal tariff program was framed as a global corrective to trade imbalances. But the rapid growth in exemptions shows a shift away from blanket measures toward a more transactional model. Countries concluding trade deals with Washington—or moving toward alignment—are rewarded with tariff relief. Others remain on the “Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners” list, a leverage mechanism that signals the U.S. may ease tariffs if partners meet American demands on trade and security. Rather than a static tariff regime, the United States is now operating a dynamic system of penalties and incentives tailored to each bilateral relationship. Economic Logic: Exempt What America Doesn’t Produce Friday’s changes also reflect pragmatic economics. Tariffing items the U.S. cannot produce — such as tropical fruits, coffee, tea, and cocoa — did little to strengthen American competitiveness and instead risked raising consumer prices. Removing fertilizer tariffs addresses concerns from U.S. farmers who rely on imported nutrients and were facing cost squeezes. By narrowing the tariff list, the administration avoids inflicting domestic economic pain that provides no strategic benefit. Shaping a U.S.-Aligned Trade Bloc Though not explicitly stated, the tariff revisions fit into the administration’s broader push to create a global trade architecture that favors countries aligned with U.S. geopolitical and national-security interests. Recent agreements with Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, El Salvador, Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, and major investment deals with Japan and Korea illustrate how the White House is using market access and tariff relief to build an interconnected system of aligned trade partners. Meanwhile, the administration continues to maintain pressure on countries with whom the U.S. has large trade deficits — implicitly including China — unless those nations move toward reciprocity on American terms. A Quiet Bombshell: The EU’s Energy Megadeal One of the most consequential elements of the fact sheet is the revelation of a multitrillion-dollar energy and investment arrangement with the European Union. Under the agreement:  The EU will purchase $750 billion in U.S. energy through 2028.It will invest $600 billion in the United States.The bloc accepts a 15% tariff while charging American companies zero tariffs.  This deal moves far beyond tariff adjustments and into the realm of structural economic alignment, fundamentally deepening U.S./EU interdependence in energy, capital investment, and industrial supply chains. It also provides the White House with a compelling justification for easing tariffs on agricultural imports that do not affect the core economic architecture of the new U.S./EU relationship. A Trade Policy Merging Economics, Industry, and Security The tariff modifications reflect the administration’s evolving strategy, where trade actions are justified not only on economic grounds but under the broader umbrella of national security. Partners seeking tariff relief must meet U.S. standards on industrial policy, supply-chain alignment, and security cooperation. This “reciprocity for security” framework now defines the trade agenda: tariffs are the stick, exemptions the carrot, and the overarching goal is a global supply chain that reinforces U.S. strategic interests. The Bottom Line President Trump’s tariff rollback does not mark a retreat from protectionism—it marks an evolution. The administration is:Easing consumer price pressures,Rewarding aligned trade partners,Leveraging tariffs as flexible diplomatic tools, andBuilding a U.S.-centric economic bloc designed to outcompete strategic rivals.  The recalibrated tariff regime reflects a synthesis of economic pragmatism and geopolitical ambition. In narrowing the tariff scope, the White House signals is not abandoning its trade agenda — it is sharpening it.