ASTA Statement on Reciprocal Tariffs and Trade Policy
The following statement is attributable to Laura Shumow, Executive Director of the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA):
“The U.S. spice industry values the Administration's America First trade policy to negotiate and implement trade agreements that strengthen the American economy and promote U.S. competitiveness. We support fair and balanced trade policies that reflect the realities of global supply chains and ensure U.S. consumer access of essential imported ingredients, such as spices. These spices naturally add flavor and promote consumption of nutritious and whole foods, and are not otherwise available in the U.S.
“Many essential spices, including cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, cloves and vanilla, require tropical conditions and cannot be cultivated domestically on a commercial scale. Tariffs on these products – including additional new tariffs announced this week – do not incentivize U.S. production or create American jobs. Instead, they place an undue financial burden on U.S. food manufacturers, restaurants, and ultimately, American consumers.
“In fact, the importation of these essential spices supports innovations and operations within the $1.2 trillion U.S. food service industry, including about 50,000 direct U.S. spice industry jobs. These jobs in processing, quality assurance, distribution, and product development contribute significantly to the broader food and restaurant sector, which employs millions of Americans.
“ASTA is encouraged by language within the U.S.-Indonesia Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, under which the U.S. may identify certain commodities not naturally available or domestically produced in the U.S. for a further reduction in the reciprocal tariff rate (often referred to as “Unavailable Natural Resources”). This is a positive sign that the Administration is considering the unique challenges faced by industries that rely on imported agricultural products due to climate and growing conditions.
“We strongly encourage the Administration to implement this promising framework for spices that cannot be commercially produced in the U.S. across all relevant trade agreements, including potential future deals with any other key trade partners from which our industry sources these critical Unavailable Natural Resources, including Brazil, Egypt, India, Madagascar, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
“ASTA remains committed to working closely with the Trump Administration and key agencies to ensure that U.S. trade policies support – not unintentionally harm – American sectors that rely on goods unavailable in the domestic market. We firmly believe that smart, targeted trade policies can support the U.S. spice industry and other American businesses, while helping to keep grocery costs down for families.”
Laura Shumow
Executive Director
American Spice Trade Association
630-542-3482
Related Resources
Webinar: Navigating Tariffs & Evolving Trade Policy – Unpacking the Impact of Trump-Era Tariffs & Understanding What’s Ahead for U.S. Spice Imports
This timely webinar hosted on May 8, 2025, explored how ongoing developments in U.S. trade policy are affecting the spice industry. This webinar offered the opportunity to hear directly from trade policy expert Shawn Marie Jarosz and ASTA about what these changes mean for your business. The webinar provided an update on ASTA's developing tariffs strategy and the latest updates on reciprocal tariffs, key trade negotiations, and the status of spice-specific exemption requests. Learn how the spice sector may be impacted by evolving policies and what ASTA is doing to advocate for relief.
Update on Cross-border Trade and Tariffs
At the 2025 ASTA Annual Meeting & Exhibits, held on April 9th in Savannah, Georgia, Shawn Jarosz presented “Update on Cross-Border Trade and Tariffs” as part of the symposium "Navigating the Spice Supply Chain Course: Discourse, Disruption, and Solutions." The session provided a comprehensive overview of trade policy and tariff actions implemented to date, with a specific focus on their impact on U.S. spice imports. Jarosz highlighted the critical role that cross-border trade and tariff policies play in shaping supply chain stability, pricing, and market access. The presentation also examined ongoing and proposed mitigation efforts to manage disruptions and maintain a resilient trade flow. Key takeaways emphasized the need for industry stakeholders to stay informed and engaged on trade developments, and to explore collaborative strategies to adapt to evolving global trade dynamics.
