By Katherine Tinsley
3:09pm PDT, Jun 8, 2025
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Bananas were a hot topic during a recent House Appropriations Hearing:
Donald Trump's Secretary of Commerce,
Howard Lutnick, made waves when he suggested that banana companies might need to move to the U.S.
However, bananas can only be grown in warm and humid climates and can't be cultivated in most of the country.
Keep reading for the details…
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Congresswoman Madeleine Dean asked Howard Lutnick about Donald Trump's additional tax on foreign goods.
"What's the tariff on bananas?" Dean asked while holding a banana. "Americans, by the way, love bananas. We buy billions of them a year. I love bananas. What's the tariff on bananas?"
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"The tariff on bananas would be representative of the countries that produce them," Howard Lutnick replied.
"And what's that tariff?" Madeleine Dean asked.
"Generally, 10 percent," Lutnick said.
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Donald Trump's tariffs have been greatly criticized, as they are expected to make goods more expensive for American consumers.
Madeleine Dean raised that point, saying, "But the cost is on the American consumer now and on the businesses with the confusion now."
"Mr. Secretary, I believe you know better," she continued. "I believe you recognize that a trade deficit is not something to fear. I believe you know that predictability, stability is essential for businesses. I wish you would show that truth to this administration."
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Howard Lutnick later urged companies to prioritize producing products in the United States.
"There's no uncertainty if you build in America and you produce your product in America. There will be no tariff," Lutnick said.
"We can't produce bananas in America," Madeleine Dean fired back.
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Despite Madeleine Dean's correction, Howard Lutnick doubled down on his stance.
"The concept of building in America and paying no tariffs is very, very clear," he continued.
"We cannot build bananas in America," Dean repeated throughout Lutnick's testimony.
"Fighting for imports is not the same," Lutnik asserted.
