Just Say NO to Tariffs | #PodSaveChocolate Ep 136
Episode 136 is a presentation and discussion of a Trump Administration olive branch regarding tariffs on cocoa and coffee and what you can do to lobby against them. Time is of the essence - so tune in and activate!
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Episode 136 Overview
TL;DR
Emily Stone, a founder of Uncommon Cacao, posted on Facebook last week that the Trump Administration was considering removing tariffs on imported cocoa, cocoa products, and coffee.
Considering.
The Ask – What You Can Do
Reach out to both of your state Senators and all of your House Representatives and send them an email, encouraging their support to exempt cocoa, cocoa products (e.g., nibs, liquor, butter, and powder), and coffee from any new tariffs.
Your letter should be the body of the email or copied into the contact form.
Do not attach your note as a PDF to an email
Use This Template
Additional Info to Consider Adding to Your Letters
- The US Chocolate Industry as a whole:
• Accounted for over $24 Billion in sales in 2023
• Employs tens of thousands of skilled workers - 3 of the Top 10 biggest chocolate/confectionery/snack companies in the world are headquartered in the US. Combined 2024 (global) sales topped $70 Billion, employing over 150,000 people worldwide.
• Mondelēz and Mars have their headquarters in Ohio
• Hershey has its headquarters in Pennsylvania
Summing Up – What? How? Who? When?
- What #1: The Trump administration is considering exempting cocoa, cocoa products, and coffee from new tariffs.
- What #2: If you are a chocolate maker, confectioner, or fan of chocolate and live in the United States, you have a voice!
- How & Who: Contact both your State Senators and all your House representatives and tell them you are opposed to the tariffs, and why
- When: Today if possible, but no later than July 31st.
EXTRA TOPIC: FDA Revoking SOIs for 52 Products
Some Vanilla products were among them
This article showed up in my feed: FDA targets 52 food standards of identity for termination.
I was contacted by a colleague who asked about three products on the list, all vanilla-vanillin mixtures. One of the reasons for asking was concern that the current administration was trying to undermine what “vanilla” was ⋯ undermining food purity and food safety concerns.
It turns out there is no modern conspiracy â‹Ż the timing is the slow turning of the wheels of government. The impetus for these changes stretches back more than 30 years.
I misspoke when I said the original Executive Order (12866) was during the Obama administration; it was from 1993 during the Clinton administration.
Executive Order 12866 (1993)
This order, issued in 1993, requires that significant federal regulations undergo review by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). A “significant regulatory action” is one that has a major economic impact, affects public health or safety, or raises important legal or policy issues. The order mandates that agencies only propose regulations when the benefits justify the costs, and encourages the use of the least burdensome regulatory approaches. It also requires agencies to make public the documents exchanged with OMB during the review process.
Read the full text (PDF) ↗
Summary from EPA ↗
The clarifying Executive Order (13563) was enacted in 2011 during the Obama administration.
Executive Order 13563 (2011)
Building on 12866, this order was issued in 2011 to reaffirm and expand regulatory review principles. It emphasizes public participation, scientific integrity, and the use of the best available techniques to quantify costs and benefits. Agencies are directed to coordinate regulatory activities, seek input from those affected before proposing rules, and periodically review existing regulations to ensure they are effective and not overly burdensome. The order also calls for greater transparency, including online access to rulemaking dockets and opportunities for public comment.
Read the full text ↗
Summary from EPA ↗
To get to the what and why, start with these two pages, the first on the FDA website, the second in the Federal Register:
Human Foods Program
21 U.S.C. 321
Purpose of the Proposed Rule: This action proposes to remove 23 standards of identity for food that FDA tentatively concludes are no longer necessary to promote honesty and fair dealing in the interest of consumers.
Now take a look at the eCFR â‹Ż the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Chapter I, Subchapter B, Part 169:
Part 169Note that 169.175, .176., .177, .178, and .179 are not affected by this rulemaking change.
Conclusion
The wheels of government turn slowly, and vanilla-vanillin products that were in common use 30+ years ago are no longer in common use, so the FDA feels that spending any more money to keep them up to date and enforce them is money wasted.
There is no grand conspiracy by the current administration.
At least in respect to this topic.
Questions?
If you have questions or want to comment, you can do so during the episode or, if you are a ChocolateLife member, you can add them in the Comments below at any time.
Episode Hashtags and Socials
#Tariffs
#cocoa #cacao #cacau
#chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate
#PodSaveChoc #PSC
#LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife
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Clay Gordon
Clay Gordon
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