In these divisive times, there’s one thing that folks from both sides of the aisle can agree on: coffee. It is the great uniter. The thing that reminds us that, for all our differences, we are fundamentally the same, which is to say, irreparably fueled by coffee. Thus it is no surprise that if there’s one thing politicians will break the party line over, it’s coffee. Which is exactly what’s happening in Congress, with a bi-partisan bill to have coffee exempted from tariffs.
As initially reported by the Washington Post, US House of Representative members Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) are expected to introduce legislation that would exempt coffee from any tariffs imposed after January 19th of this year. This includes, most notably, the 50% tariff on all Brazilian imports that have led to coffee prices spiking by 50% since their introduction in August.
According to a draft of the legislation obtained by the Washington Post, the exemption would apply to “roasted and decaffeinated coffee, as well as coffee husks, skins, and other drinks or substitutes containing coffee.” Though not expressly mentioned in the WaPo reporting, it is assumed the green coffee is also included in the exemption, because without it, the bill would ultimately be toothless.
Bacon stated in a Twitter post, “Coffee prices are up 21%. It doesn’t make sense to put tariffs on something our country does not even grow. All it does is raise the cost of coffee for American consumers.” Khanna meanwhile compared the tariffs to the Colonial tea tax, “We fought a revolution over a tax on tea. It’s time for us to have an economic uprising over the tax on coffee!”
It has not been made public when Bacon and Khanna, neither of whom are members of the Congressional Coffee Caucus, will introduce the legislation. The bill would require a simple majority in the House, which means more of the Republican majority would have to break ranks. It will then have to go through the Senate before making it to the president’s desk to sign. And who knows if that would even happen.
Nonetheless there are two politicians who are at least trying to do something to help the American people. Which doesn’t feel like it should be noteworthy and yet it is. Just goes to show the power of coffee. I bet if you put a coffee pot in the center of the aisle, we could really get the two sides to come together and work some things out.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
