Trump suspends higher tariffs on ground beef imports for 90 days
The administration will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to enter the United States without additional tariffs for three months, aiming to ease high consumer prices.
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the United States will temporarily waive the higher tariffs that apply when ground beef imports exceed a set quota. The measure will permit up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to be imported over the next 90 days without the extra tariff, a step the administration says is intended to lower retail prices.
"We have a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices," Trump wrote on his social media platform. "This deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again."
The USDA said the tariff relief is expected to "help address the affordability of beef" amid strong consumer demand. Ground beef prices have risen sharply, averaging $6.89 per pound in July, a 57% increase from five years earlier, according to Federal Reserve data. The latest consumer price index showed a 9% year-over-year rise in ground beef costs in July.
The move follows earlier actions by the Trump administration, including a February executive order to increase beef imports from Argentina. Analysts note that the additional imports represent a modest portion of the overall U.S. beef supply, casting doubt on the policy’s ability to significantly lower prices. Industry groups such as the National Cattlemen's Beef Association have expressed concerns that higher imports could pressure domestic producers.