(KIWA Staff Photo)Iowa (RI) — Iowa cattle producers are reacting strongly to President Trump’s announcement that he will allow countries to import more beef into the U.S. for 90 days without triggering higher tariffs.
Trump says he’s negotiated a deal that will bring 300,000 metric tons of imported beef into the country at a 25% discount, aimed at lowering ground-beef prices for consumers.
Cattle groups say the U.S. is already importing beef at record levels, and Trump’s announcement is pushing cattle prices down during a two-month dip in the market. Iowa Cattlemen’s Association CEO Bryan Whaley says producers are frustrated.
Whaley says Trump should let the market work without government intervention.
U.S. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, says increasing beef imports is a bad idea and plans to raise the issue with the Trump Administration.
Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek called Trump’s announcement “one more gut punch to farmers” who are “already dealing with tariffs that wrecked commodity markets.”
Democrat Chris Jones, running for Iowa Agriculture Secretary, says lowering grocery prices by importing more beef is a short-term fix.
Republican Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig, who is seeking re-election, says affordable food is important but not at the expense of cattle producers. Naig says he shared concerns with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who visited the Iowa State Fair.
Rollins says the move is part of the administration’s push to lower grocery prices and wasn’t expected.
Rollins says the plan addresses tight beef supplies — worsened by the closure of the southern border to one million Mexican cattle due to concerns about the New World Screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite.
Rollins says the U.S. Trade Representative is working on the details of an executive order Trump will issue in the coming weeks outlining the plan to import beef trimmings used for ground beef.
