For Immediate Release
By: R-CALF USA Communications Director Jaiden Moreland
Contact: R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard
Phone: 406-252-2516; r-calfusa@r-calfusa.com
WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 21, 2026 – President Donald Trump announced today on Truth Social that he plans to allow up to 300,000 metric tons of beef intended for ground beef production to enter the United States without the out-of-quota tariff for 90 days. The president said the plan is intended to lower beef prices for consumers while providing time for the U.S. cattle herd to rebuild.
In response, R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard released the following statement:
“Increasing imports doubles down on a failed strategy that has substituted foreign beef for rebuilding domestic production. Beef imports have already risen to record levels while retail beef prices continued climbing and the U.S. cattle herd continued shrinking. More imports will continue providing multinational beef packers and retailers with cheaper supplies, but they have not resulted in lower beef costs for consumers.
“Most importantly, this policy undermines the producer confidence necessary to rebuild the U.S. cattle herd. Herd expansion takes years. Producers deciding whether to retain heifers today must have confidence that future cattle prices will justify that investment. Responding to cattle prices that finally encourage expansion with more lower-cost imported beef sends exactly the wrong signal.
“We urge the administration to reconsider this approach and instead restore competition in cattle markets, implement import controls that provide producers the confidence and market opportunity to rebuild the domestic herd, and restore mandatory country of origin labeling so consumers can distinguish American beef from imported beef.
“We share the goal of rebuilding America’s cattle herd. But we cannot rebuild America’s domestic beef supply chain by increasing our dependency on foreign beef.”
Read R-CALF USA’s full response explaining how the reported import plan could affect U.S. cattle producers, herd expansion, consumer beef prices and long-term food security here: https://www.r-calfusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/260821-Revised-Response-to-Increased-Imports.pdf
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Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) is the largest producer-only lobbying and trade association representing U.S. cattle and sheep producers. It is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle and sheep industries. Visit www.r-calfusa.com or call 406-252-2516 for more information.