Trump Addresses Coffee Tariffs for First Time, Signals Break for Vietnam

"Speaking to reporters at a press gaggle on Air Force One early yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump directly addressed tariffs on coffee for the first time, saying, "We want to get coffee down a little bit." The comment marks the first time the president has explicitly mentioned coffee in his tariff policy, which has reshaped U.S. green coffee sourcing from top suppliers such as Brazil, Vietnam and Colombia."

"Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, underscored the rationale during the press meeting. "There's a handful of things like coffee, et cetera, the type of stuff we don't make in the United States - like, climatologically, we can't. So it makes sense if people are going to do a deal with us, we'll give them a good deal there," Greer said. Trump followed with, "And we want to get coffee down a little bit.""

"Meanwhile, coffee prices at grocery stores continue to rise. According to Bureau of Labor statistics, retail coffee prices climbed again in September amid cost pressures affecting green coffee roasters and traders. Brazil - historically the largest supplier of to the U.S. - has been hit with a 50% tariff, choking shipments and prompting exporters to redirect beans elsewhere. Trump also recently threatened higher tariffs on Colombian goods, the world's second-largest arabica producer, although no official action has followed."

U.S. officials indicated a policy move to reduce coffee tariffs and potentially exempt coffee in trade negotiations, affecting global sourcing and domestic prices. President Donald Trump explicitly called for lowering coffee tariffs during a press gaggle on Air Force One. The U.S. Trade Representative explained that coffee is not produced domestically for climatic reasons and that exemptions are reasonable in negotiations. Tariff measures have altered U.S. green coffee sourcing from major suppliers including Brazil, Vietnam and Colombia. Retail coffee prices rose in September amid cost pressures, while Brazil faced a 50% tariff disrupting shipments and exporters redirected beans.

Read at Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine