Nobody but Trump’s foreign cronies thinks his vague plan to cancel tariffs on foreign hamburger and sell it at below-market prices in America is good for America’s beef industry. John Tsitrian sees Trump tangling himself in thorny contradiction on principle and policy:
More interesting though is that Trump is apparently requiring retailers to set their prices for this imported commodity. That’s a common tactic in controlled economies, and is also a classic example of how communism works, where prices are set by the authorities, not by the market. Since when does a Republican, and one who is lately using the word “communist” to describe American Democrats, step into the market place to make sure goods are sold at a price determined by him?
That’s about as communist as it gets, isn’t it? Don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to sink my teeth into a “commie burger.” Karl Marx would approve.
…Oh, and there’s one more thing. Trump’s explanation that removing tariffs will cheapen beef is a tacit – no, a brazen – admission that despite his claims otherwise, tariffs actually do raise prices for consumers [John Tsitrian, “Trump Plan to Import Ground Beef Is More About Baloney Than Beef,” South Dakota Standard, 2026.08.24].
Meanwhile, Austin Hoffman, Republican lawyer scion of the legendary livestocking and legislating Eureka Hoffmans, says Trump is screwing South Dakota’s cattle producers:
President Trump is wrong on this one.
Allowing up to 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef into this country over the next 90 days without the normal out-of-quota tariff, and intentionally selling it 25 percent below current market prices, is a slap in the face to American cattle producers.
For years, ranchers have fought drought, high feed costs, fuel prices, interest rates, equipment costs, and every other expense that comes with raising cattle. America’s cattle herd is now at its lowest level in decades.
And just when the market is finally telling ranchers to keep your heifers, rebuild your herd, raise more American beef, the federal government decides to bring in cheap foreign beef to push the market the other direction.
That makes absolutely no sense.
You don’t rebuild the American cattle herd by undercutting the American cattle producer.
You don’t strengthen rural America by making foreign beef artificially cheaper than the beef raised by families in South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Texas, and across cattle country.
And you sure don’t put America First by putting American agriculture second [Austin Hoffman, “South Dakota Rancher Supporter Austin Hoffman Says Trump Beef Plan Undercuts U.S. Cattle Producers,” Northern Plains News, 2026.08.24].
On top of contradicting himself and slapping American beef herders, Trump is subsidizing foreign mystery meat that may well make us sick:
Beyond all that, we don’t know where this alleged “product for ground beef” is from, and this comes at a moment when Americans have been dealing with food recalls on beef and all manner of produce.
We also know the number of federal food inspectors is down sharply. As ProPublica reported in November: “American inspections of foreign food facilities – which produce everything from crawfish to cookies for the U.S. market – have plummeted to historic lows” [Rex Huppke, “Where’s the Beef… from? Trump’s Mystery Meat Plan Is a Mess,” USA Tpday, 2026.08.23].
The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service did flag for recall about 30,000 pounds of Trump-favored Argentinian beef earlier this month, but only after it discovered the beef had slipped into the country without proper inspection in the first place. Who knows if the Trump/Musk-hacked inspectors will have the bandwidth to catch its own failures and the cooties in Trump’s new flood of foreign beef?
No one has shown any upside for South Dakota beef producers to Trump’s communist plan to sell imported hamburger at government-mandated bargain prices. Ranchers, if you can’t change Trump’s mind, you’d better change Trump’s Congress before he bankrupts you all.
It’s probably from Argentina, which has good beef, but the mystery aspect of it makes it a bit edgy…
I posted on the weekend story you did on this, a really nifty post too – but basically there is this: a US friendly multinational ag conglomerate is sitting on 100,000-tons of Brazil-raised beef that the EU rejected due to chemicals and quality. Pundits think the 300,000 ton number is to inflame passions and anger, THEN Trump will pivot and announce a cap at 100,000 tons – so we relax as they sneak 100,000 tons of Brazil pink slime into US fast food restaurants. Maybe even feel grateful to Trump for “hearing” us. There’s a huge load of Argentinian beef similarly rejected by China that someone needs to dump somewhere as well. We are the dump people.
Main suppliers:
JBS S.A. of Brazil and JBS USA of Colorado. Store brands include Swifts, Pilgrim’s, Certified Angus Beef, Blue Ribbon Beef
BRF S.A. of Brazil
Minerva Foods
All three took a share price hit when the EU announced they were blocking beef shipments from South America effective September 3rd over chemical usage and quality issues.
It’s to Trump’s advantage to lower the cost of beef. Why should his minions be surprised? It’s all about Donald and always will be.
No more Minerva’s for me. Will the slimeball in office still eat at McDonalds if they buy pink slime? Remember the commercial on SNL with the “sweaty balls” for sale?
Somebody please label the imported beef with Trump’s name on it or a silly picture of him holding a Trump loin for sale. I need funny right now.
Thanks for pointing out Trump’s admission that tariffs raise prices for consumers. The press should be all over it.
Minerva Foods of Brazil is not related to the restaurant chain Minerva’s in any way.