Republican lawmakers publicly oppose Trump's beef import plan

Critics from cattle states warn of harm to US ranchers

Trump on Friday announced that the United States would temporarily pause tariffs on up to 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef imports. Trump said the imported beef would be sold at 25% below “current market prices.” “This deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again,” Trump said.

Within days, Republican lawmakers in major cattle-producing states publicly opposed the plan, warning that the imports would undercut US farmers.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming wrote on X that “Americans want US beef on the table – not foreign imports.” He added: “Wyoming ranchers produce the highest quality beef in the world. Our ranchers don’t ask for special treatment. They simply want a fair marketplace. It needs to be easier – not harder – for Wyoming ranchers to feed America.”

In Iowa, Rep. Ashley Hinson, the Republican nominee in a competitive race for a US Senate seat, said she supported lower prices but opposed the mechanism. “I absolutely want to see those prices come down,” Hinson said. “But I think this isn’t the way to do that.”

In a Sunday interview with Fox News, Hinson said: “I think we need to focus on letting our cattle men grow their herd … it takes some time and it takes some resources, and so I think we should be letting market conditions to do what they do – demand for beef is still really high.”

Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, a frequent ally of the president, argued that short-term policy shifts do not equal long-term solutions. “Short term policy shifts do not equal long term solutions,” Ricketts said. “Flooding the market with lower quality beef compromises Nebraska farmers and ranchers. They should be enabled to grow herd sizes and meet consumer demand.”

Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana disclosed that he had counseled the president against the move. Sheehy said he had advised Trump “against this course of action for a year.” While acknowledging Trump’s “heart is in the right place on wanting lower prices for the American people,” Sheehy said the action would make it more difficult for American ranchers to rebuild their herds. Most of whom, Sheehy said, are “Maga Republicans.”

The criticism came from lawmakers in four states with sizeable cattle farming industries — Wyoming, Iowa, Montana and Nebraska — and centered on a policy aimed at lowering grocery prices.