Sen. Chuck Grassley is calling on other countries to get on board with buying U.S. beef

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is complaining about the EU and their lack of live cattle imports from the United States.

In a call with reporters, he said American beef is the “gold standard” and other countries need to get on board with buying it up.

“In the meantime, we should continue pursuing deals like the recent agreement in principle with the United Kingdom. At least they’re going to let us import some beef into that country. This will provide relief to American producers and consumers while adding pressure to the European Union to come to the negotiating table.”

Grassley is calling on the White House to keep the pressure on EU officials. Additional tariffs are paused there until early July.

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins is currently in Rome looking to open new markets and improve existing ones across the EU. She says the U.S. relationship with Italian buyers is worth billions of dollars in trade, but warns U.S. agriculture has been left behind by the European Union. She says the USDA will continue its work to level the playing field. This trip comes on the heels of her visit just two weeks ago to the United Kingdom.

Related Stories
Smaller cow numbers and a declining calf crop point to prolonged tight cattle supplies, limiting near-term herd rebuilding potential.
CattleCon 2026 officially kicks off Tuesday and continues through Thursday, bringing producers together to shape the future of the U.S. cattle industry.
Early indications suggest the U.S. cattle industry may be nearing the end of its liquidation phase. Oklahoma State University livestock economist Dr. Derrell Peel says the industry could be at or near the cyclical low.
Beef x Dairy cattle with strong genetics and documentation are earning prices comparable to native feeders.
Marilyn Schlake with the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics joined us for a closer look at the evolving role of livestock sale barns.
Meat stocks rose seasonally but remain below last year overall, while tighter butter inventories could support dairy prices, and belly stocks warrant close watch for pork markets.
Rising import pressure and tougher export competition are likely to persist into 2026, supporting domestic supplies while capping export growth.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council published a joint press release regarding the advancement of legislation to delist the Mexican Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act.
Placements and marketings beat expectations, but declining on-feed totals and feeder constraints keep the supply story supportive for cattle prices into 2026. Dr. Derrell Peel, with Oklahoma State University, joined us to break down cattle-on-feed numbers and provide his broader market outlook.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

While this month’s WASDE report will not include updated figures on U.S. crop size, officials say it will offer a clearer picture of crop conditions in the Southern Hemisphere.
USTR Jamieson Greer signals a narrower trade deal with China, adding more market uncertainty. The Farm Bureau also supports reviewing China’s missed trade commitments under the Phase One.
Southern producers head into 2026 with thin margins, tighter credit, and rising agronomic risks despite scattered yield improvements.
Record yields and exceptionally low BCFM strengthen U.S. corn’s competitive position in global markets.