President Trump has announced he’ll allow countries to import more beef into the U-S for 90 days without triggering a higher tariff, a decision that has drawn a strong reaction from Iowa cattle producers. Trump says he’s negotiated a deal that will see 300,000 metric tons of imported beef sold at a 25% discount, to make ground beef more affordable for consumers. The groups that represent cattlemen say the U-S is already importing beef at record levels — plus Trump’s announcement is pushing cattle prices down in the midst of a two-month dip in the cattle market. Iowa Cattlemen’s Association CEO Bryan Whaley.
Iowa elected officials and candidates are raising concerns. Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, the Republican Party’s candidate for the U-S Senate, says increasing beef imports is a bad idea and she plans to talk to the Trump Administration about the move.
Chris Jones, the Democrat running for State Agriculture Secretary, says importing more beef to lower prices at the grocery store is a band-aid rather than a long-term solution to rebuild cattle herds.
U-S Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited the Iowa State Fair on Friday and spoke with reporters outside the cattle barn, where she said the move is part of the administration’s push to lower grocery prices and wasn’t unexpected.
Rollins says Trump’s move will address the tight supply of beef, made worse by closing the southern border to a million Mexican cattle due to fears about a flesh-eating parasite called the New World Screwworm.
Rollins indicated the administration’s Trade Representative is working on the details of an executive order President Trump will issue in the next few weeks with the details about the plan to import beef trimmings that are made into ground beef.
