Trump's Beef Import Plan Draws Fire From Republican Ranchers

President Donald Trump has announced a plan to temporarily allow additional beef imports into the United States without triggering higher tariffs, a move aimed at easing consumer costs ahead of the November midterms. The president said on social media that foreign exporters have agreed to sell the imported beef at 25% below current market rates, with the savings expected to be passed on to American shoppers.

The directive, which a White House official said could be formalized through an executive order within two weeks, would permit up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to enter the country over the next 90 days without activating an "out of quota" tariff. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the imports would consist of lean beef trimmings used for ground beef production.

The announcement drew immediate criticism from conservative lawmakers in rural states, who argued the plan would undercut American ranchers. Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana, a Republican and reliable ally of the president, said he had advised against the move for a year. In a social media post, Sheehy acknowledged Trump's "heart is in the right place" but warned the plan would harm ranching families, many of whom are MAGA Republicans, and make it harder to rebuild the nation's cattle herd.

The plan is also likely to face opposition from farm groups. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association previously raised concerns when the administration sought to increase beef purchases from Argentina last year. Independent cattle producer group R-CALF USA warned that imports have already contributed to declining U.S. cattle inventory, and that further imports would prevent herd expansion.

The administration has struggled to address persistently high beef prices, driven by drought, tight cattle supply, and steady consumer demand. Trump has also imposed 50% tariffs on Brazil, a major beef exporter, and last year asked the Justice Department to investigate foreign-owned meat packers over pricing, without providing evidence. The president said Friday the import plan would help grow the U.S. cattle supply, though industry experts caution that import uncertainty could discourage ranchers from investing in herd growth.