Arkansas cattle industry leaders and two U.S. senators are voicing strong opposition to former President Donald Trump’s plan to suspend tariffs on imported beef, citing concerns about its impact on domestic ranchers.
Under the plan, announced Friday, up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef could be imported tariff-free for 90 days and sold at prices 25% below market rates. The White House has not disclosed which countries would supply the beef. The administration said the move is meant to address record-high beef prices in the U.S., but local ranchers and officials argue that it overlooks deeper challenges.
Michelle Bufkin Horton of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association classified the plan as shortsighted and called for more sustainable, long-term solutions. The sentiment was echoed by American Farm Bureau Vice President Magen Allen, who runs a cow-calf operation in Bismarck. Allen criticized the measure as putting a “Band-Aid on a bullet hole,” pointing to the severe drought and rising costs for equipment and feed faced by Arkansas producers.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 71% of Arkansas is currently under moderate to exceptional drought conditions. These challenges come as the U.S. cattle herd has reached its smallest level since 1951. Arkansas, ranked 11th nationally in beef cow production, has an industry valued at $825 million annually.
Republican Sens. Tom Cotton and John Boozman have also broken ranks with the former president, stating that U.S. ranchers need relief rather than additional market pressures from increased imports. In a joint statement, the senators emphasized the need to prioritize measures that stabilize and support the domestic cattle industry.
The proposal has drawn widespread criticism for failing to address systemic issues affecting U.S. cattle producers, including drought impacts, climbing production costs, and dwindling herd sizes. Arkansas cattle farmers and their national counterparts continue to call on federal leaders to focus on comprehensive agricultural support policies.