President Trump's executive order removes duties on essential agricultural inputs and certain food items, citing progress in reciprocal trade deals, while analysis suggests marginal, focused gains for India in spices and tea exports.
In a move designed to lower input costs for American farmers and reward progress in ongoing international trade negotiations, President Donald J. Trump announced an amendment to the administration’s reciprocal tariffs, effective November 13, 2025. The executive order specifically removes import duties on several key fertilizers and certain "qualifying agricultural products," including beef, coffee, and tropical fruits.
The White House statement cited "substantial progress in reciprocal trade negotiations" as the primary justification for the decision. This progress includes nine framework deals, two final agreements on reciprocal trade, and two investment agreements.
The amendment provides immediate relief for the agricultural sector by exempting critical fertilizers such as Urea, ammonium nitrate, UAN, ammonium sulfate, potash, TSP, DAP, and MAP from tariffs. The American Soybean Association (ASA) quickly lauded the action, noting that the removal of import duties on DAP, MAP, and potash will help reduce the high costs currently straining farm margins as farmers plan for the 2026 planting season.
The eligibility of other fertilizers, such as ammonia, will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative, depending on the status of trade talks with exporting nations.
The tariff amendment followed closely on the heels of major trade announcements. Just one day prior, President Trump revealed breakthrough trade deals with El Salvador, Argentina, Ecuador, and Guatemala. A White House fact sheet confirmed these framework agreements will "allow greater and more streamlined market access" for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers in these strategic Western Hemisphere partners.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins celebrated the deals on social media platform X, emphasizing the administration's demand for "fair trade" and prioritizing domestic agricultural producers. The agreements include Argentina providing preferential market access for U.S. agricultural products, specifically citing bilateral market access for beef, and new access for American poultry and cheese within a year. Argentina also committed to simplifying registration for U.S. beef, pork, and dairy products. A separate trade deal with Switzerland and Liechtenstein was also finalized, pledging to remove tariffs across agriculture and industrial sectors, with Switzerland establishing tariff rate quotas for American poultry, beef, and bison.
