WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump announced on November 14 that he is eliminating U.S. tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruits, and a wide range of other commodities — a significant shift as his administration faces growing pressure to tackle high consumer prices.

Trump has centered his second term on steep tariffs meant to boost domestic production and strengthen the U.S. economy. Rolling back duties on so many staples marks a significant reversal, coming after voters in recent off-year elections cited economic concerns as their top issue, contributing to decisive Democratic wins in Virginia, New Jersey, and other states.

"We just did a little bit of a rollback on some foods like coffee," Trump said aboard Air Force One as he headed to Florida hours after the announcement. Pressed on whether tariffs had contributed to rising prices, he conceded they "may, in some cases," have done so, though he insisted most of the cost "has been borne by other countries."

Inflation, despite Trump's repeated claims that it has faded since he took office in January, remains elevated and continues to squeeze American households. The administration has argued that tariff revenue has helped the government and that the levies were not a major driver of grocery price increases, but Democrats seized the move as an acknowledgment that the policies were hurting consumers.

"President Trump is finally admitting what we always knew: his tariffs are raising prices for the American people," said Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia, noting that Democrats' recent electoral wins were fueled by voter frustration with the economy.

Trump imposed broad tariffs on most countries worldwide last April. Beef prices, which have reached record highs, have become a particular political liability, with tariffs on Brazil — a major supplier — contributing to the surge.

The new executive order removes tariffs on tea, fruit juice, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, and several fertilizers. Many of these items aren't produced domestically, meaning the original tariffs did little to spur U.S. production. Cutting them is still expected to help lower consumer prices.

The Food Industry Association welcomed the "swift tariff relief," calling it an essential step in keeping food supplies stable and affordable amid ongoing supply chain challenges.

The White House said some of the tariffs Trump had touted months ago were no longer necessary because of new trade agreements with Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Argentina — deals meant to expand opportunities for U.S. exporters and reduce barriers for imported agricultural products.

Trump had already hinted at possible cuts in an earlier interview with Fox News' Laura Ingraham. "Coffee — we're going to lower some tariffs," he said. "We're going to have some coffee come in."

Despite retreating on many tariffs, Trump reiterated on Air Force One that he still wants to use revenue from import duties to fund US$2,000 checks for many Americans. He suggested the payments could come in 2026 but offered no firm timeline. He also floated using tariff revenue to pay down the national debt, raising questions about how both ideas could be funded simultaneously.

Trump dismissed concerns that such direct payments could worsen inflation, even though he argued that similar pandemic-era checks had contributed to rising prices under previous administrations.

"This is money earned as opposed to money that was made up," he said. "Everybody but the rich will get this. That's not made up. That's real money. That comes from other countries."