Trump says he will reduce coffee import tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States will reduce “some tariffs on coffee imports,” according to remarks made Tuesday night (Nov. 11) on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle and reported by Reuters. “We’re going to lower the tariffs on coffee, and we’re going to have some coffee coming in [to the U.S.],” Trump stated.

The president did not specify the origin of the coffee to be affected, but Brazil — the largest coffee supplier to the United States — has been negotiating with U.S. officials for the removal of the 50% tariff imposed in August. That month, Washington introduced sweeping new tariffs on a range of Brazilian products.

In a meeting with Trump last month in Malaysia, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva requested the removal of the tax on Brazilian goods, including coffee.

The U.S. is the world’s largest coffee importer, consuming about 24 million bags annually. In 2024, Brazil supplied 8.1 million bags to the American market, according to the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé).

Brazilian Coffee Exports to the United States | Jan 2022 to Sep 2025 | TEU

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Last week, Cecafé’s Director General Marcos Matos told Valor Econômico that negotiations with the U.S. government were considering two possible solutions: a 90-day temporary suspension of the tariff pending a trade agreement, or a full exemption.

The coffee tariffs have driven up prices in the U.S. — a concern for the Trump administration. Matos noted that recent inflation data showed coffee as the product with the highest price increase over the 12 months to September, with roasted and ground coffee rising 18.9% in that period.

According to Cecafé, as a result of the tariff, Brazilian coffee exports to the U.S. fell by 46% in August and 52.8% in September.

Source: Globo Rural

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