Trump to waive beef tariffs for 90 days to lower prices and aid ranchers

President Donald Trump announced on Friday, August 21, 2026, a temporary plan to waive tariffs on a large volume of imported beef, aiming to lower grocery prices for consumers and provide relief to U.S. ranchers grappling with a historic cattle shortage. In a post on Truth Social, the president stated that for the next 90 days, the United States will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef to be imported with no out-of-quota tariff. He said the move is part of a deal that includes a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices.

Trump framed the action as a measure to assist the domestic cattle industry. "As we work to rebuild this herd and help our ranchers, this deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again," he wrote. The plan comes as beef prices have climbed significantly, with the average price of ground beef reaching approximately $6.89 per pound in July 2026, an increase of roughly 25 percent since Trump took office in early 2025.

The announcement comes against a backdrop of a shrinking national cattle supply. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data,...