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90-Day Beef Tariff Pause
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the United States will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to be imported for the next 90 days with no out-of-quota tariff to lower prices for consumers.
“a commitment" that the meat would be sold at 25% below current market prices”
Trump said he has “a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices,” and Reuters reported he did not specify which countries the beef would come from or who committed to the lower prices.
The move is framed as giving “space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again,” while the U.S. continues to face historically high beef costs.
CBS News reported that as of July, ground beef cost an average of $6.89 per pound, and it cited a U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesperson saying the action will “help address the affordability of beef.”
Ranchers and Industry Pushback
The New York Times reported the plan “seemed to surprise and anger ranchers” because Trump “did not say what countries this beef would come from, where it would be sold or how it would be sold for 25 percent off.”
The same report said a White House official stated the president would sign an executive order to remove the tariffs within the next two weeks.
Food Dive said the U.S. will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to be imported with no out-of-quota tariff for the next 90 days and that Trump said he has “a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices.”
UPI reported that the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association released a statement saying it is “disappointed” by Trump’s move and argued that “flooding the market with government-subsidized, below-market beef is not the way to rebuild the American cattle herd.”
Supply, Prices, and Elections
Several outlets tied the tariff pause to consumer affordability ahead of the November midterm elections, with Forbes saying Trump continues to log low approval ratings on the economy and cost of living.
“ground beef prices have soared to a record high, $6.89 a pound in July”
Forbes reported that ground beef prices have soared to a record high, $6.89 a pound in July, and it also cited U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures showing $13.06 per pound for ground beef.
Food Dive said U.S. beef production has plummeted as a severe cattle shortage prompts higher reliance on imports, and it cited USDA estimates that U.S. cattle processing in July was the lowest level since monthly records began in 1970.
In the same context of supply constraints, Reuters noted the 90-day deal is aimed at lowering prices as U.S. consumers struggle with grocery bills, while Trump said the agreement would reduce prices for Americans and allow the herd to rebuild.