President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will allow imports of up to 300,000 tons of ground beef over the next 90 days without import tariffs, aiming to reduce beef prices and living costs ahead of the midterm elections.
On 22 Aug 2026 GMT+7, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a temporary measure allowing the U.S. to import up to 300,000 metric tons of beef from abroad over the next 90 days without paying import tariffs beyond existing quotas. This aims to lower ground beef prices for American consumers, with a guarantee that the beef will be sold at prices at least 25% below market rates. However, Trump did not specify which countries would export beef under this new policy.
This measure comes amid pressure over rising living costs ahead of the November midterm elections. The U.S. is facing a decline in its cattle herd to the lowest level since the 1950s, partly due to drought and international market competition, resulting in reduced beef supply and higher beef prices.
As soaring beef prices have become a symbol of the U.S. cost-of-living crisis, the Trump administration is under pressure to quickly implement measures to lower consumer prices before the midterms in November. Living costs are expected to be a key issue influencing voters' decisions.
However, U.S. cattle farmers and the livestock industry oppose the increased beef imports. Deb Fischer, a Republican senator from Nebraska, a major beef-producing state, expressed deep disappointment with the measure.