U.S. Ranchers Blast Trump's Beef Import Plan as Cattle Herd Remains at 75-Year Low

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) has criticized President Donald Trump for temporarily easing tariffs on imported ground beef, arguing that increasing foreign supplies could undermine efforts to rebuild the US cattle herd.

U.S. cattle ranchers are pushing back against Trump's plan to temporarily ease tariffs on imported ground beef as the nation's cattle herd remains near a 75-year low. [Photo: National Cattlemen's Beef Association Facebook]

“Flooding the market with government-subsidized, below-market beef is not the way to rebuild the American cattle herd,” NCBA CEO Colin Woodall said in response to Trump's announcement, Andrew Stanton reported for Newsweek US.

Trump announced plans to temporarily allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground-beef imports to enter the United States at reduced tariff rates over 90 days.

The White House said the move was intended to help lower high beef prices for consumers.

Trump said the imported beef would be sold at prices 25% below current market prices.

The move drew immediate criticism from cattle producers, who argued that increased imports could weaken domestic cattle prices and discourage ranchers from rebuilding their herds.

Cattle futures fell following the announcement. Beef prices have remained elevated.

The average US retail price of 100% ground beef reached $6.885 per pound in July, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, which republishes data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The July 2025 figure was $6.254, while the July 2021 figure was $4.388.

The high prices come as the US cattle herd remains historically small.

As of Jan. 1, 2026, the nation's cattle inventory stood at 86.2 million head, the lowest level in 75 years, according to the US Department of Agriculture's cattle inventory data.

Years of drought, high input costs and other pressures have contributed to the decline in cattle numbers.

Rebuilding the herd is expected to take time because expanding the breeding herd requires producers to retain animals rather than send them to slaughter.