WASHINGTON — Kansas U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall are urging President Donald Trump to reconsider a plan to temporarily increase ground beef imports, warning the proposal could harm American cattle producers and discourage expansion of the nation’s herd.
Trump announced Friday that the United States would allow up to 300,000 metric tons of beef used for ground beef production to enter the country during a 90-day period without the higher tariff normally imposed on imports exceeding established quotas.
The president said foreign exporters have committed to selling the beef at 25% below current market prices. The administration says the additional supply would help reduce grocery costs while allowing the domestic cattle herd to recover.
Moran said importing discounted beef would place additional pressure on an agricultural sector already facing significant challenges.
“Economic forces and natural disasters have constrained the cattle herd for years, and importing beef below market prices will only put further downward pressure on the livestock sector, endangering what has been a bright spot in a struggling agriculture industry,” Moran said. “I urge President Trump to halt this action, listen to ranchers and let the free market work.”
Marshall said high beef prices are primarily the result of the nation’s historically small cattle inventory.
“Beef prices trace back to one thing: the smallest cattle herd of my lifetime,” Marshall said. “Americans aren’t short on protein options like chicken or pork. What’s short is the signal to U.S. ranchers to grow the herd back.”
Marshall said federal policy should focus on long-term measures that encourage ranchers to expand their herds instead of increasing foreign beef supplies.
“That’s where long-term solutions and federal policy should focus, not flooding the market with imports,” Marshall said.
The number of cattle in the United States has fallen to its lowest level in decades following prolonged drought, high production costs and other economic pressures. Limits on cattle entering from Mexico because of concerns about the New World screwworm have also tightened supplies.
Beef prices have climbed to record levels as the smaller supply has met continued consumer demand.
The proposed imports would represent about 3% of the beef Americans consume annually, according to Kansas State University agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor. Tonsor said the amount may be too small to significantly affect retail prices.
Cattle organizations have also criticized the proposal, arguing that below-market imports could reduce cattle prices and remove the financial incentive ranchers need to rebuild their herds.
Trump is expected to sign an executive order formalizing the temporary tariff change within two weeks. The administration has not identified the countries expected to supply the additional beef.