Four of the country’s largest cattle industry organizations warn that flooding the market with 300,000 tons of duty-free foreign beef threatens herd rebuilding and long-term food security.
The Livestock Marketing Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and United States Cattlemen’s Association sent a joint letter to President Trump calling for the immediate reversal of the initiative to import up to 300,000 tons of lean beef trimmings over 90 days, with the 26.4% out-of-quota tariff suspended, in an effort to reduce retail prices by 25%.
The organizations acknowledged the goal of making beef more affordable but warned that current prices reflect years of drought, record feed costs, and the contraction of the cattle herd to its lowest level in more than 70 years—not abusive practices by producers or meatpackers.
“This announcement has already sent cattle markets plunging and undermines producers at a critical time of year, when they are marketing cattle and making herd-rebuilding decisions,” the letter said.
The coalition argued that if domestic producers are displaced by “subsidized” foreign beef, the US will become increasingly exposed to disruptions in global supply chains, ultimately resulting in higher consumer prices.
Rather than adopting a unilateral measure, the four organizations urged the administration to work with the industry on structural solutions that strengthen domestic production capacity.
“American producers are asking for a fair and competitive marketplace, honest price signals, and policies that put US farmers, ranchers, and consumers first,” the letter concluded.
