Area Republicans oppose Trump’s beef import plan
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President Donald Trump’s plan to increase tariff-free beef imports is drawing opposition from Republican officials across Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, who warn the move could hurt cattle producers while doing little to address the shortage behind high beef prices.
Trump says the U.S. will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of beef used for ground beef to enter the country over 90 days without higher out-of-quota tariffs. The administration says the additional supply could help lower grocery prices.
Several regional Republicans argue the underlying problem is the historically small U.S. cattle herd.
Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton said imported beef sold below market prices would put more pressure on American cattle producers and urged Trump to reconsider.
“I have advised the President against this ill-advised action in the past and I now urge him to reconsider,” Cotton wrote on social media.
Kansas Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall also criticized the plan. Moran said importing cheaper beef could put further downward pressure on the livestock industry, while Marshall said the better approach is rebuilding the domestic herd rather than increasing imports.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond also pushed back, warning the move could hurt Oklahoma ranchers and saying he would oppose policies he believes are wrong for the state.
Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins said cattle producers are frustrated after years of drought, high input costs and historically low cattle inventories. He said additional government intervention in the cattle market is the wrong approach.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has also opposed the plan.
Trump has defended the proposal, saying he supports ranchers but believes additional beef supply is needed to lower prices.
It remains unclear how much consumers would save. The proposed imports would represent only a small share of annual U.S. beef consumption.
