Trump Eases Beef Tariffs to Lower Prices, Faces Rancher Backlash

President Donald Trump announced Friday that the United States will temporarily waive tariffs on up to 300,000 metric tons of additional beef imports for 90 days, a period lasting through the midterms.

The move aims to ease consumer price strains. Trump stated that exporters agreed to a 25% discount below current market prices for this beef. Ground beef averaged $6.89 a pound. Beef prices have increased by almost 12% in the last year, and the American cattle herd has fallen to its lowest level in 75 years.

Trump will formally sign an executive order on the tariff waiver for beef trimmings imports within the next two weeks. This push is cutting against pillars of Trump's economic agenda, including tariffs and favoring domestic producers. Trump previously signed an executive order in February 2026 increasing the amount of beef Argentina could export to the United States, citing the declining American cattle herd, the threat of New World screwworm, and persistent wildfires.

He also directed the Justice Department to investigate meat packing companies over alleged collusion to drive up prices. The administration is under mounting pressure to deliver relief as affordability becomes a bigger political liability ahead of the midterms. US cattle producers and some Republican senators blasted the move, warning that cheaper imports could hurt ranchers and efforts to rebuild their depleted herds.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association president Colin Woodall stated, "You don't put America first by putting U.S. cattle producers last." Senator Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., advised President Trump against this action for a year, saying it would further harm American ranchers, most of whom are MAGA Republicans. Senator Deb Fischer, R-Neb., expressed extreme disappointment, stating that flooding the market with foreign beef hurts the livestock industry and undermines the long-term solution of growing the US cattle herd.

Trump defended his decision, saying it’s what people want and that we want to get the beef prices down, so we will get them down a little bit. Trump did not specify which foreign beef exporters he had reached a deal with or which companies made commitments for the 25% discount.