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America’s Favorite Fruit at Risk of $250 Million Price Increase
WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, April 7, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Banana Association of North America (BANA) announced today that the cost of America’s favorite fruit could go up by as much as $250 million a year under the 10% reciprocal tariff imposed April 5 by the Trump Administration. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that more than $2.5 billion of fresh bananas were imported into the U.S. in 2024, meeting the ever-increasing demand of American banana consumers.
Although the Administration stated that one of the purposes of reciprocal tariffs is to bring more business to the U.S., bananas and other tropical fruits cannot be commercially grown in the U.S. Rather than fulfilling this purpose, American consumers shopping for bananas – both organic and conventional – will see prices rise at supermarkets across the country.
Another purpose of the reciprocal tariff is to address uneven trade balances between the U.S. and its foreign trading partners. More than 90% of bananas sold in the U.S. are imported from just five countries –Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Honduras. Although these countries are all included in the 10% tariff framework, U.S. Census Bureau international trade data actually shows that the U.S. has a collective positive balance of trade with these countries, exporting $4.7 billion more in goods to these countries than it imports.
Collectively, these facts demonstrate that the chief objectives of the reciprocal tariff are largely inapplicable to bananas.
“Clearly, American consumers will suffer higher prices from tariffs on bananas, without producing significant economic benefits for the U.S. Our balance of trade with banana-producing countries is already positive, and there is no potential to meaningfully drive U.S. banana production in the U.S. given the climate in which bananas grow,” said Tom Stenzel, Executive Director of BANA.
“We support the Trump Administration’s efforts to reduce regulatory burdens and ensure fair trade for American businesses. But we also urge the Administration to recognize the unique role of bananas and other tropical fruits, and the frightening financial impact that these tariffs pose for U.S. consumers,” he said.
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The Banana Association of North America (BANA) is a trade association representing and serving importers and marketers of bananas in North America. BANA members supply more than 90 percent of all bananas sold in the United States, and work to serve U.S. consumers with the healthiest and freshest supply of America’s favorite fruit.
Although the Administration stated that one of the purposes of reciprocal tariffs is to bring more business to the U.S., bananas and other tropical fruits cannot be commercially grown in the U.S. Rather than fulfilling this purpose, American consumers shopping for bananas – both organic and conventional – will see prices rise at supermarkets across the country.
Another purpose of the reciprocal tariff is to address uneven trade balances between the U.S. and its foreign trading partners. More than 90% of bananas sold in the U.S. are imported from just five countries –Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Honduras. Although these countries are all included in the 10% tariff framework, U.S. Census Bureau international trade data actually shows that the U.S. has a collective positive balance of trade with these countries, exporting $4.7 billion more in goods to these countries than it imports.
Collectively, these facts demonstrate that the chief objectives of the reciprocal tariff are largely inapplicable to bananas.
“Clearly, American consumers will suffer higher prices from tariffs on bananas, without producing significant economic benefits for the U.S. Our balance of trade with banana-producing countries is already positive, and there is no potential to meaningfully drive U.S. banana production in the U.S. given the climate in which bananas grow,” said Tom Stenzel, Executive Director of BANA.
“We support the Trump Administration’s efforts to reduce regulatory burdens and ensure fair trade for American businesses. But we also urge the Administration to recognize the unique role of bananas and other tropical fruits, and the frightening financial impact that these tariffs pose for U.S. consumers,” he said.
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The Banana Association of North America (BANA) is a trade association representing and serving importers and marketers of bananas in North America. BANA members supply more than 90 percent of all bananas sold in the United States, and work to serve U.S. consumers with the healthiest and freshest supply of America’s favorite fruit.
Tom Stenzel
Banana Association of North America
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