US admin prepares tariff relief to ease food prices

Move comes after Democrats won key elections with a promise to bring down costs

- ANA SWANSON, MAGGIE HABERMAN STYLER PAGER

The Trump administration is preparing broad exemptions to certain tariffs in an effort to ease elevated food prices that have provoked anxiety for American consumers, according to three people briefed on the actions.

“The change would apply to certain reciprocal tariffs the president announced in April, including on products coming from countries that have not struck trade deals with the administration,” the people said, discussing a pending announcement on the condition of anonymity.

“The exemptions are expected to include beef and citrus products, although the people cautioned that President Trump had not made a final decision.”

If the proposal goes forward, it would be the latest rollback of one of the president’s key economic policies over growing concerns about affordability, even as Trump has insisted — wrongly — that prices are down. Last week, Democrats won elections around the country in large part by harnessing worries about the cost of living.