Last month, members of the US House of Representatives introduced legislation to exempt coffee from tariffs. The bill, authored by the bipartisan team of Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Don Bacon (R-NE), would retroactively exempt all imported coffee from any tariffs imposed after January 19vol this year.
And yesterday, Wednesday, October 29vola bipartisan couple from the other half of Congress is introducing similar legislation. The bill, led by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev) and Rand Paul (R-KY), “blocks President Donald Trump’s administration from imposing additional tariffs on coffee imports from any country with which it has normal trade relations.”
As reported Traffic lightsthe recent bill came a day after the Senate rejected a resolution to eliminate 50% tariffs on all Brazilian imports, including coffee. Called “Law on no coffee tax”, the bill adopts a position similar to that proposed in the House, stating that “no tariff or other duty may be imposed in excess of the rate established on January 19, 2025.” This will include green and roasted coffee, decaf, as well as coffee skins and husks.
“This coffee tax does not lend a hand American business in any sedate way, but it does raise costs at the grocery store for hard-working families across the United States,” Cortez Masto said in a statement.
The president expressed interest in limiting the boost in coffee prices caused by tariffs. According to Peasant! Financesthe president said on Monday that “we want to cut down on coffee a little bit,” which could signal a softening U.S. stance on tariffs.
According to Yahoo, coffee prices have increased by more than 25% since the president took office in January.
