United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) is disappointed by President Trump’s order, signed yesterday, that temporarily eases tariffs on imported beef lean trimmings. USCA continues to warn that this kind of short term “quick fix” is unlikely to bring down consumer prices in the near term but will instead leave American ranchers paying the price.
“Producers are already starting to feel the effects of this action in the markets this week—which were down across the board for multiple days. As we head into the time of year when herd rebuilding decisions are made by many, we need stability and transparency,” said President Justin Tupper. “The biggest piece of the herd rebuild puzzle is consistent market signals, ones that point to a profitable future for the American rancher in our own market. Agriculture and rural America are struggling for a number of reasons right now; the cattle industry was one of the few bright spots left, yet in just a few short days we have seen that progress effectively reversed.”
According to the order, lean beef trimmings are the only product covered by this temporary tariff relief. For countries that have already exceeded their annual beef quota, the order creates up to 100,000 metric tons of additional quota per month for the next 90 days, beginning September 1.
“We understand our consumers, and we rely on their purchasing decisions. They want a safe product, and we’ll continue to give them that. They’ve set a record high for demand and consumption, proving that consumers are willing to pay for US beef, and that prices weren’t too high.”
In recent days, some consumers have responded to news of Argentina beef recalls in the U.S. and China by calling to “not eat beef” altogether. That reaction works directly against the herd rebuilding we need here at home. USCA will be focusing on clear, factual communication so consumers know exactly what to look for at the meat counter. “When consumers see a U.S. label, they can be confident that product meets some of the highest health and safety standards in the world.”
USCA is asking the Administration to reverse this order. “Our message to President Trump is constructive: there is still time to change course,” Tupper concluded. “We are ready to work with you on a plan where everyone wins and where America truly comes first.”
You can read the full proclamation and White House commentary here.
Download this press release on the USCA website HERE.
