Trump’s tariff rollback aims to tackle surging living costs, opening new export opportunities for India’s mangoes, pomegranates and tea as affordability becomes a decisive political pressure point.
US President Donald Trump has rolled back tariffs on a range of food imports in an attempt to address rising living costs, a shift that could offer fresh momentum to Indian exporters of mangoes, pomegranates and tea.
The White House on Friday confirmed that tropical fruits, juices, spices and tea would be excluded from reciprocal tariffs, easing pressure on importers and consumers. Coffee, cocoa, oranges, tomatoes and beef were also listed among the goods spared under the revised measures.
Trump had earlier imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian imports, along with an additional 25 per cent penalty linked to New Delhi’s crude purchases from Russia. The combined burden pushed up prices in US markets, with importers and retailers passing on higher costs to consumers.
The administration’s latest move comes amid mounting voter frustration over affordability, an issue that played prominently in recent Democratic victories in New York City, New Jersey and Virginia. While Trump has focused on global strategy — from tariffs to investments — domestic sentiment has increasingly centred on household budgets.
An NBC News poll this week showed that 63 per cent of registered voters felt Trump had fallen short on living costs and the broader economy. Significantly, 30 per cent of Republicans shared that view. Trump has dismissed the affordability narrative as a “complete con job”, arguing that petrol and energy prices are lower than during President Joe Biden’s early inflationary peak, when inflation touched 19.7 per cent on some metrics.
Inflation has since eased but remains persistent, coming in at 3 per cent in September. Food products, however, have seen sharper increases, partly influenced by tariffs. According to the September Consumer Price Index, roasted coffee prices rose 18.9 per cent, while beef and veal climbed 14.7 per cent. Indian grocery stores in the US have reported price surges of nearly 30 per cent on spices and imported Indian foods.
India’s mango exports hold a symbolic place in bilateral ties. Former President George W. Bush lifted the long-standing import ban in 2006, turning mango diplomacy into a goodwill moment between the two nations. The fruit later reappeared in the joint statement issued by Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Trump’s 2020 visit to India, where New Delhi thanked Washington for easing export pathways for mangoes and pomegranates.
The latest tariff relief could further strengthen that niche but meaningful agricultural link at a time when both nations are already collaborating on defence, technology and strategic projects.
