US food producers ask Trump to cancel duties

Major packaged food producers including Quaker Oats and Folgers have asked US President Donald Trump to exempt some imported ingredients, including cocoa and fruit, from tariffs, Reuters reported, citing a letter sent by the companies. According to the Consumer Brands Association, an industry association representing PepsiCo, Conagra and J M Smucker, the producers are asking for ingredients that are not produced in the US to be exempt from the new tariffs. This will help protect American producers who buy raw materials domestically but cannot find alternatives to some imported components. At the same time, the abolition of tariffs will help curb inflation, since the additional costs associated with the new tariffs will be passed on to the buyer. The association called on the administration to introduce tariffs strategically so as not to harm companies that support American farmers and producers, but are forced to import certain components. At the same time, Donald Trump said ...