File photo for reference only

 

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order relaxing tariffs on a variety of food products like coffee, bananas, and beef. This step comes amid increasing pressure on his administration to address escalating costs of living in the United States. The recent elections, where the Republican Party underperformed, appear to have prompted this shift in focus.

 

The exemptions cover a wide range of items, including avocados, tomatoes, coconuts, and mangoes, which the White House asserts cannot be produced in sufficient quantities domestically. Historically, Trump has maintained that his 10% import tariffs would not result in increased consumer prices. However, these exemptions indicate a policy change, suggesting a move to reduce costs by rolling back levies on certain staples.

 

Economists previously warned that tariffs could drive up consumer prices as companies shift costs onto customers. Although inflation was milder than anticipated in September, the Department of Labor's report noted a 2.7% increase in grocery prices over the previous year. The BBC reported that the administration's tariff waivers for food products will take effect retroactively from midnight on Thursday, 13 November.

 

In related efforts to alleviate grocery price concerns, import taxes on coffee and bananas will be reduced as part of agreements with four Latin American nations. Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have both pledged to address the 20% rise in US coffee prices this year.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways:

 

• Trump's new policy targets the rising cost of living by lowering tariffs on essential food products.
• Economists had predicted increased consumer costs due to tariffs, with grocery prices rising 2.7%.
• Tariff exemptions take effect retroactively from 13 November, impacting trade deals with Latin America.

 

Read more World News HERE

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-11-15

 

 

Trump’s action Friday also exempts a range of fruits including tomatoes, avocados, coconuts, oranges and pineapples. Along with coffee, the tariff reductions extend to black and green tea, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/14/trump-cuts-tariffs-goods-prices.html

 

So no more worries on guacamole for TACOS.

Wonderful man! 

First, he creates a terrible problem for Americans, then steps in and very visibly removes the problem, and his supporters think he's a hero because he removed such a terrible problem...

... conveniently forgetting that he was the one who created the problem to begin with!

Woke Libtard here…. 

 

I thought all these tariffs are being paid by other countries?…

 

Can someone MAGAsplain why we need to reduce tariffs that are saving civilization!?…

So he has suddenly realised that tariffs of say 50% on Coffee from

Brazil will raise prices, he must have had a brain fart ,and all because

he did not like what the President did ,putting Bolsonaro the former

president in jail for doing exactly what Donald himself did ,trying to

overthrow the country   

 

regards worgeordie

This is finally an admission of an error in his ways, bad planning, poor vision and the inability to anticipate things of this nature, which were quite obvious. 

 

Trump is simply panicked over the recent election losses, and is doing anything to claw his way back to acceptability. The public is finally starting to see who he is, they're finally starting to realize that the man is a blazing idiot, a buffoon, and an extreme fool and he is losing support by the day, which is a great thing.

 

The American people are regaining their senses. 

I hope the reduction in tariffs doesn't affect the $2000 cheques that are in the post ? 

Send the bribes i mean cheques people are not fed up of winning yet

This was predicted when he first introduced the high tariffs.

... well then, best time to now EXPORT-tax exactly these products, 5555 ...

Yet, another about turn, how embarrassing for you Trump supporters............🙄....................

Trump has been claiming for months now that food prices ,gas prices are all down so why change the poicy now when everything is going so well. Trump wouldn't be lying again would he. Not honest Donnie.

On 11/15/2025 at 7:54 AM, FolkGuitar said:

Wonderful man! 

First, he creates a terrible problem for Americans, then steps in and very visibly removes the problem, and his supporters think he's a hero because he removed such a terrible problem...

... conveniently forgetting that he was the one who created the problem to begin with!

I am disgusted with him and his GOP kiss ass followers.

“145% tariffs on China,” the thunderous announcement said, but then Trump would meet with Xi Jinping behind closed doors, and the rate would magically drop to 20%. And it’s not just that in many cases the numbers were tacitly reduced a lot, or nothing was imposed – in other cases, many exceptions were made. Mobile phones, for example, were exempt from all tariffs. That’s why the iPhone 17 that was released in September costs $800 and not $1500. In Brazil, 50% tariffs were imposed and, indeed, implemented – but with 700 exceptions for most of the products imported from that country by the US. 

This whole tariff story is only partly an ideological crusade of people with heretical or even misguided views on international trade. It is mainly something else: a tool for blackmail and corruption. Many in April had defied the alarmism, soberly commenting that these outrageous numbers were simply a starting point for “negotiation.” In a sense, they were right. Simply by “negotiation” they imagined negotiations between states, to reach agreements for maximum mutual benefit, as has always been done at this level. Trump, however, is not at this level. He is not a politician. He is not even a normal “businessman.”  This man, who in his previous career was taken to court 4,000 times (suppliers, employees, tenants, associates, friends, the IRS, women), the man who in the 10 months since he was re-elected has made $3.4 billion selling cryptocurrencies and taking bribes from criminals to pardon them and from foreign governments, did not impose tariffs for the sake of imposing tariffs, but to "sell" exemptions, for personal, individual benefit.

1 hour ago, Suetape said:

I am disgusted with him and his GOP kiss ass followers.

As are all rationally-thinking people today.
Cult followers are difficult to watch, as their actions and comments make no sense whatsoever! Just blind obedience to the Cult Leader. 

All seems very one-sided on here......are the usual suspects on an away day?

On 11/15/2025 at 9:43 AM, worgeordie said:

So he has suddenly realised that tariffs of say 50% on Coffee from

Brazil will raise prices, he must have had a brain fart ,and all because

he did not like what the President did ,putting Bolsonaro the former

president in jail for doing exactly what Donald himself did ,trying to

overthrow the country   

 

regards worgeordie

Trump's only concern is the midterms. Anything to convince the intellectually challenged to vote for him.  Reduce the tariffs to solve a problem he created. Promise a $2000 check that will never materialize. Etc etc.

3 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

All seems very one-sided on here......are the usual suspects on an away day?

They're enjoying their tacos 

On 11/15/2025 at 7:54 AM, FolkGuitar said:

Wonderful man! 

First, he creates a terrible problem for Americans, then steps in and very visibly removes the problem, and his supporters think he's a hero because he removed such a terrible problem...

... conveniently forgetting that he was the one who created the problem to begin with!

So true. The level of retardedness in the usa is astounding...Dont they teach any critical thinking at all ? 

4 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Trump's only concern is the midterms. Anything to convince the intellectually challenged to vote for him.  Reduce the tariffs to solve a problem he created. Promise a $2000 check that will never materialize. Etc etc.

Exactly, he will promise the check just before the elections , and of course the utter scum has no intention of paying it.

Expect more unwinding as Trump know that the Supreme Court will ruled against his tariffs. The tariffs slashes on some food products are part of his exit plan to make him looks like he care for the people. Most people don't buy this even his $2,000 tariff dividend payment which is a total con as the math just don't add up. 

12 minutes ago, Usnh said:

So true. The level of retardedness in the usa is astounding...Dont they teach any critical thinking at all ? 

All part of Trump's diabolical plan to set the country on a path to educational authoritarianism. Easier to control the retards. 

19 minutes ago, Usnh said:

So true. The level of retardedness in the usa is astounding...Dont they teach any critical thinking at all ? 

No. They do NOT. They teach rote memorization more than anything simply because it's the easiest way to control a bunch of kids. Just like the Military. Don't question. Just believe.

2 hours ago, Dave0206 said:

I hope the reduction in tariffs doesn't affect the $2000 cheques that are in the post ? 

Send the bribes i mean cheques people are not fed up of winning yet

Yes, had the same snarky thought.

And the MAGAs will fall for it...

38 minutes ago, Wrwest said:

3 hours ago, Dave0206 said:

I hope the reduction in tariffs doesn't affect the $2000 cheques that are in the post ? 

Send the bribes i mean cheques people are not fed up of winning yet

Yes, had the same snarky thought.

 

Which reduction in tariffs did you guys have in mind??

 

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/brazilian-coffee-beef-tropical-fruit-182151366.html

Brazilian coffee, beef and tropical fruit will still be tariffed 40%, says Brazil’s vice president

 

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said Saturday that Brazilian exported goods to the U.S. including coffee, beef and tropical fruits would still be tariffed 40%, despite President Donald Trump’s decision to remove some import taxes.

In a dramatic move on Friday, Trump scrapped levies announced in April on what he called ‘Liberation Day’ in hopes of encouraging domestic production and lifting the U.S. economy. Brazil at the time was hit with a 10% tariff.

 

But in July, Trump imposed a further 40% tariff, citing — among other reasons — the trial of his ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro, which he called a “witch hunt.” Proceedings went ahead regardless and in September Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for attempting a coup.

Alckmin said some products, such as orange juice, would now have a zero tariff as they were not targeted by the additional 40%. But that extra tariff remains in place on products including coffee, beef and tropical fruits, such as mangos and pineapples.

 

 

Trump campaigned on lowering the cost of

housing, of rent, of groceries, of eggs.

And yet, what did he do once he had

power? He engaged in a trade war that

raised the cost of everything. He cut

Medicaid from 17 million Americans. Not

sure how that's going to lower costs. He

cut food assistance to the tune of $186

billion. Not sure how that's going to

lower costs. Ended subsidies for the

Affordable Care Act that will result in

healthcare premiums for 24 million

Americans becoming 2, 3, 4, five times

more expensive next year. Not sure how

that's going to lower costs. Energy

prices are surging. Inflation has been

rising every month since March.

Thanksgiving will be more expensive.

Quite literally, none of what this guy

ran on doing has come to fruition. And

the truth is that affordability is

simply not a focus for Trump. It was on

the campaign trail when he needed

something from his voters, namely their

support. But now that he's got power, he

doesn't care about them. Now Trump's

focus is on himself. It's on building a

$350 million ballroom, on renovating the

Lincoln bathroom in marble, on paving

over the Rose Garden, on encrusting the

Oval Office in gold, on retrofitting a

Qatari jet to the tune of a billion

dollars, uh, on buying Christy Gnome a

couple of Gulfream jets for $172

million, hosting crypto dinners where he

casually doubles his net worth, hosting

Gatsby themed parties at his club.

I didn’t know that the US grew bananas, coffee and coconuts to warrant having a tariff on foreign goods. 

Lie to me.  Then lie to me some more.  After that tell me some more lies.  Tell me over and over not to believe my own eyes and ears.  Then call me a fool for not believing my own eyes and ears. 

 

Buy a Chinese bible or a junk watch.  Big sale on action hero trading cards.  Pardons commutations and unlimited corporate merger permissions for sale to highest bidder.  Extra special treatment for those who buy my fake crypto crap.  New garish gold everywhere like a gangster brothel.  Billions to dictator buddies in Argentina but no extra for fire or hurricane victims in usa.   Epstein?  Who is that?  Nothing to hide here.  Drain the swamp.  USA USA.

 

Is it possible that even some of the hard core maga group may finally be growing a brain and losing their taste for kool aide?

 

 

35 minutes ago, pomchop said:

Lie to me.  Then lie to me some more.  After that tell me some more lies.  Tell me over and over not to believe my own eyes and ears.  Then call me a fool for not believing my own eyes and ears. 

 

Buy a Chinese bible or a junk watch.  Big sale on action hero trading cards.  Pardons commutations and unlimited corporate merger permissions for sale to highest bidder.  Extra special treatment for those who buy my fake crypto crap.  New garish gold everywhere like a gangster brothel.  Billions to dictator buddies in Argentina but no extra for fire or hurricane victims in usa.   Epstein?  Who is that?  Nothing to hide here.  Drain the swamp.  USA USA.

 

Is it possible that even some of the hard core maga group may finally be growing a brain and losing their taste for kool aide?

 

 

Marjorie Taylor Greene (yea I know..) finally did grow some balls on a few matters, and questioned him.. Now look what happens to her.. It's a shiitshow.

 

Donald Trump is nothing but a big time bully and a fraud. The fact that he is "the leader of the free world", is the biggest scam and hoax of all times.

 

And he claims he is so popular in other countries, like Europe.. LOL. He is so delusional.

Guess what, Donnie, the rest of the world hate you.