Reciprocal Tariff Exemptions for Spices: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
On November 14, the White House issued an Executive Order exempting certain agricultural commodities, including many spices, from all reciprocal tariffs globally. The exemption is effective as of November 13. ASTA has received questions from members about these exemptions. We have compiled a list of questions and answers for members. This document was updated on December 18, 2025 to reflect new guidance from USTR that spices on Annex II from India are exempted from Russian-oil related tariffs.
Membership Required
A valid ASTA membership is required to access this page. Please use the form below to log in with your ASTA member account.
Log in
Not a member yet? Click here to learn about joining ASTA today.
Related Resources
ASTA Testimony to Senate Committee on Finance Hearing on Trade Policy and Tariffs
On April 8, 2025, ASTA submitted testimony to the Senate Finance Committee hearing on trade policy, emphasizing the association's request for exemptions from tariffs for commodities that cannot be grown in the U.S.
FDA One-Pager on Import Certification
The FDA is implementing import certification requirements under Section 801(q) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (added by FSMA Section 303) for certain foods from certain regions of Indonesia due to Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination risks. This was based on information available, including detection of elevated levels of Cs-137 in several shipments, including shrimp and cloves, FDA sample analysis, and known sources of contamination in the region. This one-pager provides what you need to know for shipping products subject to Import Alert (IA) 99-52.
