WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order Friday modifying the scope of his sweeping reciprocal tariff program, removing key agricultural imports — including coffee, beef, and tropical fruit — from the list of goods subject to duties. The move, the White House said, follows major progress in trade negotiations with dozens of U.S. partners and marks a new phase in Trump’s campaign to “rebalance” global commerce.
The order, issued under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, updates the president’s April 2025 directive that imposed global tariffs aimed at correcting what he called “large and persistent U.S. trade deficits.” Under the new directive, certain food products not grown domestically — such as tea, cocoa, bananas, tomatoes, and spices — will be exempt from the reciprocal tariffs first established earlier this year.
“President Trump is strengthening the U.S. economy and national security by modifying the scope of the reciprocal tariffs,” the White House said in a fact sheet. “These changes reflect both domestic needs and the success of the president’s historic trade deals, which have opened new markets for American producers while ensuring fairer terms abroad.”
Administration officials said the adjustment comes after months of negotiations that produced a series of agreements on reciprocal trade and investment with countries across Asia, Europe, and Latin America — including new deals with Malaysia, Cambodia, and the European Union, as well as framework agreements with Thailand, Vietnam, and several Central and South American nations.
According to the White House, the European Union has agreed to purchase $750 billion in U.S. energy and invest an additional $600 billion in U.S. industries by 2028, while accepting a 15 percent tariff on its own exports to the United States. In return, American companies will face zero tariffs on exports to Europe.
The exemptions for agricultural products, effective November 13, 2025, come amid what the Trump administration calls “unprecedented progress” in reindustrializing the U.S. economy. Officials cited domestic production capacity, supply chain stability, and national security priorities as key factors in determining which goods would remain under the tariff program.
Trump’s reciprocal tariff framework — which ties duty rates to those charged by trading partners — has been a cornerstone of his second-term economic strategy, using tariffs as leverage to push countries toward new trade and security alignments with the United States.
Supporters argue that the strategy has strengthened manufacturing, reduced dependence on foreign supply chains, and fueled new investment in U.S. industry. Critics, however, warn that the approach risks disrupting global markets and driving up consumer prices.
Friday’s order signals a shift toward refinement rather than escalation, carving out exceptions for products unavailable or impractical to produce domestically — a move that analysts say could help ease inflationary pressures while maintaining pressure on nations with lopsided trade practices.
“The president’s trade policy is entering its next stage — tough, fair, and strategic,” a senior administration official said. “We’re protecting American workers while making sure everyday consumers aren’t paying the price for goods we simply don’t grow here.”
The order also directs the Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security, along with the U.S. Trade Representative, to continue monitoring global trade conditions and recommend further adjustments as needed.
While the scope of the tariffs continues to evolve, the administration said its guiding principle remains the same: to restore balance, rebuild domestic production, and secure America’s economic future through reciprocal trade.
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