The Hershey Co., headquartered in Hershey, Pa., applauded a recent decision by President Donald Trump to exempt cocoa from broad tariff measures he announced earlier this year.
“For more than 130 years, we’ve been committed to keeping chocolate affordable and accessible for every family,” the candy company said in a Nov. 14 statement. “This exemption strengthens our domestic supply chain and enables us to continue investing in American manufacturing.”
Earlier the same day, Trump signed an executive order modifying the scope of the reciprocal tariffs that he first announced April 2, stating specifically that certain qualifying agricultural products will no longer be subject to those tariffs.
In addition to cocoa, the exempt products imported from other countries include coffee and tea, tropical fruits and fruit juices, spices such as vanilla beans, various nuts and grains, beef products, and certain fertilizers.
“Cocoa is not grown in the United States and is essential to our U.S.-based manufacturing operations, supporting more than 10,000 American jobs and fueling economic growth across the country,” Hershey said Friday.
The White House said in its statement that the revised executive order follows “the significant progress” the president has made in securing more reciprocal terms for the nation’s bilateral trade relationships.
“President Trump’s deals have had and will continue to have broad impacts on domestic production and the economy as a whole, including enhanced market access for our agriculture exporters,” the statement said.
The modifications officially took effect Nov. 13, said the White House.