USDA chief tempers expectations on Trump's beef import pledge

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday that negotiations over President Trump's proposed temporary tariff-free beef imports are still ongoing, walking back the president's earlier claim of a completed deal. The plan faces opposition from Republican lawmakers and ranchers who worry cheaper foreign beef will undercut domestic prices and shrink herd investment. Rollins attributed the need for imports to a reduced U.S. cattle herd, blaming the prior administration for the supply gap.

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Rollins clarified that the trade negotiations remain unfinished, with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer still finalizing details. She admitted she had not discussed the specific announcement directly with Trump, despite their broader conversations on the issue. The plan specifically targets ground beef to address what she described as a significant supply chain gap.

The U.S. annually imports roughly 2 million metric tons of beef to supplement domestic production. Rollins attributed the current shortfall to