Trump Advocates Tariff Strategy to Cattle Ranchers, Urges Reduction in Meat Prices

President Trump reached out to cattle ranchers on Wednesday, defending his tariff strategies and encouraging them to reduce their prices.

“The Cattle Ranchers, whom I cherish, might not realize that their recent success is largely due to the tariffs I implemented on cattle imports, including a substantial 50% tariff on Brazilian beef,” Trump shared on Truth Social. “Without my intervention, their situation would mirror the struggles of the past two decades— dismal!”

He further emphasized, “While I hope they acknowledge this impact, it’s also essential for them to lower prices, as consumers are a significant consideration for me as well!”

Trump has enforced high tariffs on Brazilian beef imports, a key supply source for the United States.

His comments come amidst criticism from some Republican senators regarding his suggestion to import beef from Argentina as a means to support the South American economy.

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and others have argued that importing beef will hurt domestic cattle ranchers.

Fischer warned that importing beef from Argentina would not be the best way to lower prices for American consumers, and it would hurt U.S. ranchers.

“Nebraska’s ranchers cannot afford to have the rug pulled out from under them when they’re just getting ahead or simply breaking even,” she wrote online Tuesday. “I strongly encourage the Trump administration to focus on trade deals that benefit our ag producers—not imports that will do more harm than good.”

Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the agency would be providing more than $3 billion in assistance to farmers who have been hurt amid a trade dispute with China, which has stopped buying products like soybeans from American farmers.