Trump lowers tariffs on coffee, tomatoes, more as Americans’ anger over prices grows

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) signed an executive order retroactively lowering tariffs on a range of agricultural imports, including beef, tomatoes, coffee and bananas, with the change taking effect from November 20, CNN reported.

The order removes these goods from the “reciprocal” tariff system, which applies rates between 10 per cent and 50 per cent. However, it doesn’t eliminate tariffs altogether. For example, tomatoes imported from Mexico — a major supplier for the US — will still face a 17 per cent tariff.

That rate has been in place since July, after a nearly 30-year-old trade deal expired, and tomato prices jumped soon after, as per CNN. For instance, tomatoes from Mexico, a major supplier to the United States, will continue to be tariffed at 17 per