by Theleaders | August 22, 2026 1:11 pm
ISTANBUL, Aug 22 — US President Donald Trump on Friday announced a 90-day waiver of out-of-quota tariffs on ground beef imports, allowing up to 300,000 tonnes of foreign beef into the country, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
“As we work to rebuild this herd and help our ranchers, for the next 90 days, the United States will allow up to 300,000 tonnes of product for ground beef to be imported with no out-of-quota tariff,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
“We have a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 per cent below current market prices,” Trump said, adding: “This deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again.”
The move comes as US beef prices climb amid a shrinking domestic cattle herd that is now at its lowest level in decades.
The average price of 100 per cent ground beef in the US is about US$6.89 (RM27.91) per pound, according to US Bureau of Labour Statistics data shared by the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis.
Ranchers have cut herd sizes amid high production costs and other market pressures, tightening supplies and pushing up prices for consumers.
Food affordability has emerged as a key issue ahead of the US midterm congressional elections on Nov 3, with Trump seeking to ease grocery costs despite concerns over domestic production.
The new measure is expected to increase foreign beef supplies while the US works to rebuild its cattle herd.
Trump had planned a similar move in May, according to Politico, but shelved it after facing opposition from members of his inner circle.
The latest move could also draw resistance from US ranchers and cattle industry representatives, who argue that higher imports could undermine efforts to strengthen domestic production.
The Trump administration has yet to say how the additional imports will be allocated or which countries will supply the beef.
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