Trump cuts tariffs on beef, coffee and tropical fruits as pressure on consumer prices increases

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to eliminate tariffs on a wide range of goods, including beef, coffee and tropical fruits. It is part of a response to pressure from consumers who complain that prices are too high.

The move comes after voters in off-year elections earlier this month cited economic concerns as their top issue, leading to big wins for Democrats in races in Virginia and New Jersey.

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The President signed the executive order after announcing that the United States had reached framework agreements with Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Argentina aimed at easing import duties on agricultural products produced in those countries. Trump suggested earlier this week that he would lower tariffs on coffee to help increase imports.

Trump and his administration have long insisted that tariffs do not increase consumer prices. Some of the products covered by the new executive order are not produced in the United States.

But record high beef prices were a particular concern, and Trump said he planned to take action to try to bring them down. Trump’s tariffs on Brazil, a major beef exporter, were one factor.