Staff Reports
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s latest commentary on President Trump’s tariffs has brewed a storm in a coffee cup, leaving many on social media rolling their eyes and reaching for their strongest java. The self-proclaimed champion of the working class seems to believe that a 25 percent tariff on Colombian goods will serve to do nothing but put a dent in Americans’ wallets, particularly when they reach for their beloved coffee.
The backdrop involves President Trump clashing with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who, in an ironic twist, opted to refuse accepting deported Colombian migrants. In an all-too-familiar move, Trump wasted no time in slapping the coffee-exporting nation with hefty tariffs. His reasoning was crystal clear: if Colombia wasn’t going to hold up its end of the deal regarding American criminals, its goods were about to cost a whole lot more at the border.
Who wants to tell her that there are other countries that export coffee, not just Columbia. https://t.co/Bp2SK3TnYZ
— Bill Essayli (@billessayli) January 26, 2025
Ocasio-Cortez leaped into the conversation by declaring that coffee-loving Americans will soon feel the pinch at the checkout counter, as she warned that these tariffs are just a recipe for rising inflation. According to her, it seems she believes that whenever Trump is involved, it’s the little guy who ends up paying the price. Her unexpected take, presumably brewed from a blend of emotion and half-baked economic theory, suggests that Americans will pay the price for Trump’s supposed vendetta against Colombia.
However, her economic logic has been met with skepticism. While politicians often paddle in the shallow end of the economic pool, smarter minds—like those at Breitbart—explain that the cost of tariffs doesn’t always fall squarely on consumers. In fact, when tariffs on Chinese goods and metals were implemented, prices for various consumer products remained surprisingly stable. Usually, the burden shifts to exporters who have to make adjustments if they want to keep their products competitive in the U.S. market.
Moreover, it’s worth noting that coffee imports don’t live in a vacuum. Colombia isn’t the only player on the field; countries like Vietnam and Brazil are also significant coffee exporters. Even a state legislator had to chime in, sarcastically suggesting that perhaps Ocasio-Cortez could benefit from a quick geography lesson. If Colombian beans become too pricey, buyers can simply look elsewhere, and that’s hardly an economic catastrophe that would warrant Ocasio-Cortez’s dramatic outcry.
As usual, the progressive narrative falls short against the economic realities that seasoned analysts are quick to highlight. Ocasio-Cortez might want to step back and consider the broader context of global trade, rather than focusing on hypotheticals that paint a bleak picture for coffee aficionados in America. In today’s world, coffee lovers have options, and fortunately for them, there are plenty of beans to go around, even if they’re not coming directly from Colombia.
