Trump proposes temporary beef import waiver amid historic U.S. cattle decline
The administration announced a 90-day suspension of higher tariffs on imported beef to lower prices while the nation’s cattle herd hits its lowest level in 75 years.
In a Friday announcement, the Trump administration said it would suspend higher tariffs on beef imports for 90 days, permitting 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef to be sold at prices roughly 25% lower than current market levels. The goal, according to the president’s social-media post, is to reduce consumer costs and give the U.S. cattle herd room to recover. USDA figures indicate the nation entered 2026 with 86.2 million cattle and calves, the smallest inventory since the 1950s and a decline from the 94.7 million counted in 2019.
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association’s CEO Colin Woodall expressed disappointment, arguing that subsidised, below-market beef would not rebuild the herd. American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall warned of a projected 60% rise in imports and cautioned that short-term price cuts could lead to higher long-term grocery costs and food-security risks. Ranchers across regions cited drought, excess rain, and rapid urban development as additional challenges to herd recovery, noting that rebuilding the cattle population could take a decade.
Why it matters
The policy could reshape U.S. beef prices, affect farmers' livelihoods, and alter the country's food-security landscape.
In this story
