By Julie Tomascik
Editor

President Donald Trump announced a plan Friday to temporarily increase beef imports in an effort to lower ground beef prices for American consumers. The proposal comes as U.S. beef imports are already at record-high levels.

The plan would allow up to 300,000 metric tons of additional beef to enter the U.S. over the next 90 days without the out-of-quota tariff. That amounts to about 661 million pounds of beef.

Trump said the move is intended to provide consumers with some relief from high grocery prices while giving U.S. ranchers time to rebuild the nation’s cattle herd.

“I concluded a deal to substantially lower the price of ground beef for working American families,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again.”

Trump said there is a commitment for the imported beef to be sold at 25% below current market prices, but he did not identify which companies had agreed to the commitment or which countries would supply the beef.

Farm groups say increasing imports could have the opposite effect on ranchers who are trying to rebuild their herds.

Keeping food affordable is important, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) President Russell Boening said. But decisions aimed at lowering prices should also consider the potential impacts on cattle markets and ranch families.

“We understand the importance of keeping food affordable for American consumers and appreciate the administration’s efforts to address that challenge,” Boening said. “At the same time, we must ensure decisions do not create additional uncertainty or volatility in the marketplace.”

The U.S. cattle herd is at its lowest level in 75 years after drought and high production costs led ranchers to reduce their herds.

Boening noted strong cattle prices are providing some stability as farmers and ranchers continue to face financial pressure.

“Strong cattle prices are one of the few sources of stability for farm and ranch families, and we encourage the administration to continue seeking input from cattle ranchers, Texas Farm Bureau and the broader industry as these decisions are made,” Boening said.

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) also expressed disappointment with the administration’s plan.

“We appreciate the president’s goal of reducing grocery costs, but short-term measures could have long-term negative effects for consumers and for ranchers who are making decisions on whether to retain or expand their herd,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said.

The concern comes as cattle prices have fallen sharply over the past two months and beef packing plants are closing across the country. AFBF warned additional imports could put more pressure on cattle markets and undermine efforts to rebuild the U.S. herd.