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Additional beef imports under the Trump administration’s temporary tariff-rate quota fell well short of the first monthly target, with little apparent relief for consumers at the grocery store. The policy allowed 300,000 metric tons of beef to enter over 90 days, divided into three monthly allocations of 100,000 metric tons. But through September 28, just 37,486 metric tons had entered under the first allocation.
That’s according to University of Arkansas economist James Mitchell. Mitchell estimates only a fraction of that volume represented additional beef that would not otherwise have entered the U.S. market.
“The main point is that 100,000 metric tons of new beef imports did not materialize in September, and there was no noticeable change in retail beef prices,” Mitchell wrote.
American Farm Bureau Federation analysis also found ground beef prices remained unchanged at 30 of 41 grocery stores tracked nationwide. Tight cattle supplies and strong consumer demand continue to support elevated prices, despite record imports.
NAFB news service
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