National Coffee Business Initiates Nationwide Campaign Advocating for Coffee Exemption from Tariffs due to Sector Pressure
Over 10,000 signatures have been collected in a little over a month for a petition initiated by Coffee Bros., a specialty coffee company, calling for the exemption of coffee from U.S. tariffs. This swift accumulation of support mirrors growing anxiety within the specialty coffee industry, particularly among small roasters and consumers facing a perfect storm of rising coffee prices and supply chain instability.
The petition's momentum is propelled by the escalating economic pressures affecting coffee production. Prices have skyrocketed in recent months, quadrupling in some instances, due to adverse weather conditions and crop losses in major coffee-producing countries, combined with global inflation and market speculation. Additionally, tariffs imposed on some imports reach staggering levels of up to 46%, further fueling price inflation and prompting many to opt for lower-grade alternatives.
Dan Hunnewell, co-founder of Coffee Bros., stated, "We're navigating a critical juncture. Our customers are confronted with a combination of record-high coffee prices and growing economic instability that threatens the quality and sustainability of their favorite specialty coffees."
The impact of these pressures extends beyond the coffee beans. Crucial items used by small-scale coffee businesses, including packaging, filters, and paper products, are also ensnared in the tariff crossfire, with limited domestic manufacturing options available.
"Small businesses have managed to weather the storm of the pandemic due to their adaptability," Hunnewell said. "But the accumulation of these pressures, with tariffs, inflation, and climate-induced crop loss, is leaving them without any viable alternatives."
Coffee Bros. advocates for trade policies that acknowledge the reality that coffee is not scalable in the U.S. The petition requests three key changes: an exemption of coffee from tariffs, recognition as a non-manufacturable agricultural good, and safeguarding the livelihoods of small American businesses and international coffee farmers.
Hunnewell asserts, "Treating coffee like it can be mass-produced within the U.S. is both harmful and short-sighted. This outdated trade policy undermines the global coffee industry."
The call for a more sustainable and realistic trade policy for coffee continues from Coffee Bros., as they urge policymakers, industry leaders, and the public to support the petition, entitled "Exempt Coffee from Tariffs," now available on Change.org.
- The escalating economic pressures, including tariffs, inflation, and adverse weather conditions, are affecting not only coffee prices but also crucial items used by small-scale coffee businesses, such as packaging, filters, and paper products.
- Recognizing the challenges faced by the specialty coffee industry, Coffee Bros., a specialty coffee company, has initiated a petition calling for trade policy changes, including the exemption of coffee from tariffs, acknowledging coffee as a non-manufacturable agricultural good, and safeguarding the livelihoods of small American businesses and international coffee farmers.
- In the political and legislative landscape, the petition's momentum reflects growing concerns among the general public, business leaders, and policymakers about the impact of tariffs on the specialty coffee industry, particularly on small roasters and consumers, and the need for more sustainable and realistic trade policies.
