Economy & Trade
Ground beef imports get 300,000-ton tariff relief
US President Donald Trump said Friday the United States will temporarily allow up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef to be imported without an out-of-quota tariff for 90 days, presenting the move as an effort to lower prices for American consumers.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that the measure would apply while the United States works to rebuild its cattle herd and help ranchers. He did not say which countries would export the beef, but said there was a commitment to sell it at 25% below market prices.
The announcement drew criticism from cattle and rancher groups. Republican Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska, a major beef-producing state, said she was “extremely disappointed” and said lower grocery prices should not come at the expense of American producers.
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association also criticised the move. Colin Woodall, the trade group's chief executive, said “government-subsidized, below-market beef” was not the way to rebuild the American cattle herd and said the announcement sacrificed long-term stability for short-term messaging.
Responding later to criticism, Trump gave no details on how the plan would work but said he would get beef prices down because “that's what the voters want, and that's what I want.”
The US cattle herd has fallen to its lowest level since the 1950s, in part because of drought and international competition, and the smaller herd has pushed beef product prices higher. Beef prices have become a visible part of pressure on household costs as November midterm elections approach, with Democrats seeking to take control of both houses of Congress from Trump's Republicans.
Last fall, Trump demanded that ranchers cut prices, and he later moved to expand imports of beef trimmings from Argentina to cool ground beef prices. He has also launched an investigation into the meatpacking industry over high red meat prices.
US demand for beef remains strong. The US Department of Agriculture estimates total beef consumption this year will reach 29.4 billion pounds, up from 2025. The American Farm Bureau Federation warned in May that Americans are consuming more beef than US farmers and ranchers can supply. Bernt Nelson, an economist at the federation, said cattle producers still face uncertainty that affects herd rebuilding decisions, including animal health threats such as New World screwworm.
Update
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association criticised the move, with CEO Colin Woodall saying below-market imported beef would not rebuild the US cattle herd.
Woodall said the announcement and other market interventions risk sacrificing long-term stability for short-term messaging.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 22:32:49 UTC.
Update
Trump later responded to criticism by saying he would get beef prices down because voters want lower prices, while giving no further details on how the plan would work.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 21:10:12 UTC.
Update
Republican Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska said she was "extremely disappointed" by the move.
Fischer said lower grocery prices should not come at the expense of American producers and said foreign beef imports hurt the livestock industry.
The source added that affordability is expected to be a key issue in November's midterm elections.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 19:53:30 UTC.
Update
The US cattle herd has shrunk to its lowest level since the 1950s, partly because of drought and international competition.
Trump said the measure would give the US cattle herd space to grow again.
US cattle and rancher groups have resisted importing more beef.
Trump previously moved to expand imports of beef trimmings from Argentina to cool ground beef prices.
The US Department of Agriculture estimates US beef consumption will reach 29.4 billion pounds this year, up from 2025.
The American Farm Bureau Federation warned that Americans are consuming more beef than US farmers and ranchers can supply.
Farm Bureau economist Bernt Nelson said cattle producers face uncertainty affecting herd rebuilding decisions, including animal health threats such as New World screwworm.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 14:12:00 UTC.
Update
Trump said there was a commitment to sell the imported ground beef at 25% below market prices.
Trump did not identify which countries would export the beef.
The announcement was described as coming as elections loom.
The item adds context that high food prices have been compounded by fuel and transportation costs linked to the energy crisis associated with the war in Iran.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 11:54:52 UTC.
Update
Trump said the United States would allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef product to be imported over the next 90 days without an out-of-quota tariff.
Trump said the measure came as the United States works to rebuild the herd and help ranchers.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 11:41:41 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Which countries would export the beef were not specified.
Details of how the import plan would work were not provided.
Source
AFP news report published on .