'We cannot build bananas in America': House Democrat fires back at Commerce Sec. Howard Lutnick on tariffs.
Rep. Madeleine Dean and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were banana-split on President Donald Trump's tariffs and banana prices during a House hearing Thursday.
'We cannot build bananas in America,' the Pennsylvania Democrat said to the secretary as he testified on the fiscal year 2026 budget request before the House Appropriations Committee.
The two had been discussing Trump's tariffs on almost every country and the subsequent levies that would fall onto countries that produce the bananas Americans eat for that good ol' potassium.
'What's the tariff on bananas? Americans, by the way, love bananas,' Dean said to Lutnick. 'We buy billions of them a year. I love bananas.'
'The tariff on bananas would be representative of the countries that produce them,' Lutnick said.
Dean: 'And what's that tariff?'
Lutnick: 'Generally 10%.'
Dean: 'Correct, 10%. Walmart has already increased the cost of bananas by 8%.'
Lutnick: 'As countries do deals with us, that will go to zero.'
Dean: 'But the cost is on the American consumer now and on the businesses with the confusion now.'
Lutnick: 'There's no uncertainty: If you build in America and you produce your product in America, there will be no tariff.'
Dean: 'We can't produce bananas in America. We cannot build bananas in America.'
Hawaii is the only state with the climate that allows for growing bananas. Most come from overseas.
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