President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the United States will permit tariff-free imports of up to 300,000 metric tonnes of ground beef over the next 90 days, a move aimed at cooling domestic prices. The step suspends the out-of-quota tariff normally applied above existing import allowances.
Beef prices in the U.S. have climbed sharply through 2026, driven by a shrinking national cattle herd. The reduction in supply has pushed retail costs higher across the year, adding pressure on household grocery budgets ahead of an election period.
“For the next 90 days, the United States will allow up to 300,000 metric tonnes of product for ground beef to be imported with no out of quota tariff,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. He framed the measure as part of an effort to rebuild the herd and support American ranchers.
The president did not specify which countries would supply the additional volume or how the quota would be allocated among trading partners. The 300,000-tonne ceiling applies to ground beef specifically rather than to all beef products.
The temporary opening runs counter to the broader tariff posture the administration has maintained through the year. The White House has kept a baseline duty on a wide range of imports even after striking trade agreements with several partners.
Cattle inventories have contracted after years of drought and elevated feed costs prompted producers to reduce breeding stock. Rebuilding a herd is a multi-year process, leaving near-term supply constrained and keeping upward pressure on wholesale and retail prices.
The 90-day window places the expiry roughly in late November, after which the standard tariff structure is set to resume unless the administration extends the relief. Trading partners and importers will now assess how quickly the additional 300,000 tonnes can move before the deadline.