Trump reverses course and cuts tariffs on US food imports

Order exempting coffee, beef, bananas and other items comes as White House fights off concerns about rising costs

• People in the US: how are your holiday shopping plans being affected by Trump's tariffs and the cost of living?

Donald Trump moved to lower tariffs on food imports, including beef, tomatoes, coffee and bananas, in an executive order on Friday as the White House fights off growing concerns about rising costs.

The new exemptions take effect retroactively at midnight on Thursday and mark a sharp reversal for Trump, who has long insisted that his import duties are not fueling inflation. They come after a string of victories for Democrats in state and local elections in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City, where affordability was a key topic.