President Trump Increases Beef Imports to Address Supply Shortages and Price Hikes
President Donald J. Trump has signed a Proclamation to temporarily increase the U.S. tariff-rate quota for lean beef trimmings, aiming to alleviate the current supply shortages and high prices of ground beef. The U.S. cattle herd has reached a record low of 86.2 million head as of January 2026, with beef cow inventory down by 8.6% since 2020. This decline is attributed to years of drought, wildfires affecting grazing lands, and reduced feed supplies, which have significantly impacted domestic beef production. Additionally, restrictions on cattle imports from Mexico, due to the New World Screwworm, have further constrained feedlot stock supplies. As a result, ground beef prices soared to an average of $6.69 per pound in December 2025, the highest since the 1980s. To counter these challenges, the Proclamation allows for an additional 80,000 metric tons of lean beef trimmings per year from Argentina to be imported tariff-free, divided into four quarterly tranches of 20,000 metric tons each. 
