Trump announces temporary relaxation of ground beef imports, exempting extra-quota tariffs for 90 days

(Central News Agency, Washington, 21st Comprehensive Foreign News Report) U.S. President Trump announced today that he will temporarily relax import restrictions on ground beef. In the next 90 days, up to 300,000 metric tons of products will be exempted from extra-quota tariffs. Trump's move is aimed at lowering the cost of living for consumers to benefit the upcoming midterm elections.

Agence France-Presse reported that Trump wrote on his social media platform "Truth Social" today: "As we assist livestock farmers and work to restore cattle numbers, the United States will allow the import of up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef products for the next 90 days without extra-quota tariffs."

Trump did not specify which countries the beef would be exported from, but promised to sell it at 25% below market price.

The U.S. cattle herd has shrunk to its lowest level since the 1950s, in part due to drought and international competition. As the cattle herd dwindles, rising prices for beef products have become a symbol of the rising cost of living, forcing the Trump administration to take measures to deal with it.

The cost of living will be a key issue in the November midterm elections, as the Democratic Party is trying to regain control of the House and Senate from Trump's Republican Party.

U.S. cattle and livestock industry groups have resisted importing more beef. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, who represents Nebraska, a major beef-producing state, expressed "extreme disappointment" with the measure.

"Everyone wants to lower grocery prices, but as I've said for months, we can't do that at the expense of American producers. Flooding the market with foreign beef will hurt the livestock industry," Fisher, a Republican, said.

Trump is convinced the new measure will "significantly lower" the price of ground beef, but has offered few details on how it would work.

Last fall, Trump asked livestock producers to significantly reduce prices, and then took further action to expand imports of ground meat from Argentina to suppress the price of ground beef.

Red meat prices remain high, and Trump has launched an investigation into the meat processing industry.

Trump's latest measures come as American households battle stubborn inflation. Trump and Israel jointly attacked Iran, and Iran responded by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, blocking important transportation channels for energy and fertilizers. Fuel, transportation and food costs have subsequently risen, putting a squeeze on consumers' pockets.

Despite rising beef prices, U.S. consumer demand for meat remains strong. The USDA estimates that total beef consumption will reach 29.4 billion pounds this year, a slight increase from 2025.