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President Donald Trump is signing two executive orders designed to reduce beef prices, according to a White House official, as rising food costs remain a concern ahead of the midterm elections.
The measures focus on increasing supply and supporting domestic producers. One order will temporarily suspend a tariff-rate quota on beef imports, allowing more foreign beef to enter the U.S. at lower tariff levels. The second directs the Small Business Administration to expand access to loans and capital for cattle ranchers.
The actions also aim to encourage rebuilding the U.S. cattle herd, which has fallen to a decades-low level due to drought conditions and rising production costs.
Additional provisions include reducing certain regulatory requirements for ranchers and adjusting wildlife protections tied to predators such as gray wolves, which ranchers say impact livestock.
Beef prices have risen significantly in recent years, increasing roughly 40 percent over the past five years. Drought has reduced available grazing land, forcing producers to rely more heavily on feed, while steady consumer demand has kept prices elevated.
Supply has also been affected by disruptions to imports, including concerns over livestock pests in Mexico that temporarily halted shipments.
The United States is expected to import a record amount of beef this year, with major suppliers including Brazil, Australia and Canada, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Some ranching groups have expressed concern that increased imports could hurt domestic producers. Earlier this year, industry organizations warned that expanding foreign supply could impact the livelihoods of U.S. cattle operators.
The administration has also pointed to consolidation in the meatpacking industry as a factor in rising prices. The Department of Justice recently confirmed it has opened an antitrust investigation into major meatpackers that dominate the processing market.
In February, President Trump signed the “Ensuring Affordable Beef for the American Consumer” proclamation, implementing a November executive order to lower tariffs on select food imports, including beef. The move temporarily increased the amount of Argentine beef trimmings allowed into the United States, tariff-free, fourfold. The executive orders expected Monday would further expand that policy by suspending tariff quotas on beef imports from all exporting countries, not only Argentina.
