WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — President Donald Trump says he is taking additional steps to address concentration in the meatpacking industry while moving forward with reduced-tariff beef imports.
In a Truth Social post Friday morning, Trump said his administration is preparing documents that would allow farmers and ranchers to process their own food. He called the four largest meatpackers a monopoly and said the market is not very competitive. Trump said the paperwork would be filed quickly.
The announcement comes as the president moves forward with plans to increase beef imports despite pushback from several agriculture groups.
Trump signed a proclamation this week allowing the first 100,000 metric tons of ground beef to enter the U.S. beginning Sept. 1. The order does not specify an origin for the imports and allows all eligible countries access to the 90-day increase in tariff-rate quotas, divided into three batches.
The move follows Trump’s earlier announcement that the U.S. would allow an additional 300,000 metric tons of beef imports in an effort to lower consumer prices.
