Bananas at risk of $250M price increase, trade association says

The total cost of bananas could go up by as much as $250 million a year under a 10% reciprocal tariff imposed April 5 by the Trump administration, according to the Banana Association of North America.

USDA reports that more than $2.5 billion of fresh bananas were imported into the U.S. in 2024, according to a news release. Though the administration said 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., the association says. Rather than fulfilling this purpose, American consumers shopping for bananas — both organic and conventional — will see prices rise at supermarkets across the country, according to the organization.

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.

Though these countries are all included in the 10% tariff framework, U.S. Census Bureau international trade data 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, according to the release.

Collectively, these facts demonstrate that the chief objectives of the reciprocal tariff are largely inapplicable to bananas, the association says.

“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 the Banana Association of North America, a trade association representing importers and marketers.

“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,” Stenzel said.