Trump defends tariffs, tells beef producers to lower prices

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(The Center Square) – Cattle producers called on President Donald Trump to reverse course on a plan to import beef from Argentina as prices for the grocery store staple continue to climb.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association said the move would hurt U.S. ranchers and their families.

"The National Cattlemen's Beef Association and its members cannot stand behind the President while he undercuts the future of family farmers and ranchers by importing Argentinian beef in an attempt to influence prices," NCBA CEO Colin Woodall said in a statement. "It is imperative that President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins let the cattle markets work."

NCBA also pointed to the significant trade imbalance between the U.S. and Argentina and noted Argentina's "long history of foot-and-mouth disease." Over the past five years, Argentina has shipped beef valued at more than $800 million to the U.S., while buying $7 million of U.S. beef, according to NCBA.

"If President Trump is truly an ally of America's cattle producers, we call on him to abandon this effort to manipulate markets," Woodall said. 

Trump hit back in a Truth Social post.

"The Cattle Ranchers, who I love, don't understand that the only reason they are doing so well, for the first time in decades, is because I put Tariffs on cattle coming into the United States, including a 50% Tariff on Brazil," Trump wrote. "If it weren't for me, they would be doing just as they've done for the past 20 years – Terrible!"

The U.S. president also called on beef producers to lower prices, which have jumped recently. Ground beef prices were up 12.8% over the 12 months ending in August, according to the Labor Department.

"It would be nice if they would understand that, but they also have to get their prices down, because the consumer is a very big factor in my thinking, also!" the president wrote on social media. "In addition to everything else, Tariffs on other Countries SAVED our Cattle Ranchers!"