Congress locks in coffee prices, blocking tariff hikes on a daily staple
H.R. 5516 — No Coffee Tax Act · Filed by Ro Khanna (D-CA) · 11 cosponsors · Introduced Sep 19, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill prevents the U.S. government from raising tariffs on coffee imports from countries that have normal trade relations with the U.S. above the rate that was in effect on January 19, 2025. It applies to all coffee products—roasted, unroasted, decaffeinated, husks, skins, and coffee substitutes. The bill blocks tariff increases even in emergency situations.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a tariff ceiling on a specific commodity class, preventing executive tariff escalation. It functions as a price-stability measure for consumers while constraining trade policy discretion.
What the text implies
- Freezes tariff authority on coffee even if trade negotiations or retaliatory tariff wars escalate, potentially limiting executive flexibility in broader trade disputes.
- Applies only to countries with normal trade relations status; countries without that status (e.g., under sanctions or special trade regimes) remain subject to tariff changes.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
coffee importers and distributors; coffee retailers and food service operators; consumers (indirect benefit via lower prices)