(Picture credit Mike Flood)
Nebraska’s Congressional Delegation expressed dissatisfaction with President Trump’s Friday morning announcement that he would be temporarily waiving out-of-quota tariffs for foreign beef imports.
The President announced via TruthSocial on Friday morning that he’d concluded a deal to allow 300,000 metric tons of beef to enter the United States over the next 90 days, subject to no additional “out of quota” tariff, which applies to imports exceeding a set limit.
“We have a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices,” he said, framing the decision as a short-term price reduction while the American herd regrows.
Nebraska’s federal delegation was less than enthusiastic about the administration’s announcement.
“This move undercuts American farmers and ranchers by flooding the market with lower quality foreign beef,” said Rep. Mike Flood via Twitter. “Nobody raises better beef than Nebraska ranchers, and price controls should never be used to give foreign beef a leg up over American beef. I share the administration’s goal of lowering grocery prices for Nebraska families, but that should not come at the expense of our ranchers and producers.”
Senators Ricketts and Fischer spoke likewise, saying the fix was too short-sighted.
“I appreciate the Administration’s work to lower grocery prices. Short term policy shifts do not equal long term solutions. Flooding the market with lower quality beef compromises Nebraska farmers and ranchers. They should be enabled to grow herd sizes and meet consumer demand” said Ricketts.
“I’m extremely disappointed by this decision from the White House,” said Senator Fischer. “We all want lower grocery prices, but as I’ve said for months, we cannot do it at the expense of American producers. Flooding the market with foreign beef hurts our livestock industry and undermines the long-term solution: growing the U.S. cattle herd to meet demand.”
Rep. Adrian Smith of NE-03, home to the bulk of Nebraska’s cattle herd, posted a brief comment on the matter to Twitter, along the same lines as the others.
“Despite record-low herd sizes, Nebraska’s ranchers continue to produce high-quality beef for consumers around the world. As President Trump works to lower costs for consumers, we must ensure those efforts do not undermine ranchers’ ability to rebuild their herds.”
Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHague stated the move “could not have come at a worse time for Nebraska’s cow/calf producers,” creating an untimely deviation in the feeder calf market at a time of year that ranchers are in the business of selling calves. He also expressed skepticism that the import would make a tangible difference on grocery prices:
“Given that the United States imports around 2.5 million tons of beef product, most of it being lean trim for hamburger, it is doubtful this influx makes much of a difference on retail prices.”
The United States Cattlemen’s Association has likewise criticized the announcement. The waiver will take effect pending an executive order, which the White House has reportedly stated will take place within the next two weeks.
The Plains Sentinel has contacted Rep. Don Bacon for comment, this article will be updated accordingly.
— Lewis Thune is a writing fellow with The Plains Sentinel.