Republicans Warn Trump 300,000-Ton Beef Import Plan Hurts Cattlemen as Midterms Near
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 3
Republicans Warn Trump 300,000-Ton Beef Import Plan Hurts Cattlemen as Midterms Near
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 3
Summary
House and Senate Republicans from cattle states told the Trump administration the imported-beef plan is angering ranchers who form a core part of the GOP base, with several saying the backlash is intensifying before November.
Trump signed the order last week to bring in 300,000 metric tons of foreign ground beef, to be sold 25% below current prices for 90 days, arguing it would ease grocery costs and give depleted U.S. herds time to recover.
Jamieson Greer acknowledged in a private meeting Wednesday that ranchers feel squeezed but said the policy is temporary; lawmakers leaving the session still warned it could depress cattle prices during a key marketing period.
The dispute lands as Republicans search for an affordability message while herd numbers sit near 1950s lows after drought and New World screwworm, pushing some GOP lawmakers to press instead for more grazing access and processing capacity.