KEY POINTS
Beef prices are at record highs—not because of U.S. ranchers or tariffs, but because dependence on foreign imports and meatpacker consolidation have distorted the market.
- Despite record beef imports in 2025, prices have risen 14% over the past year—proving that more imports do not lower costs.
- The real problem is declining domestic supply: decades of reliance on cheap beef imports have weakened U.S. food security and driven the U.S. cattle herd to its lowest level since 1951.
- Four meatpacking giants controlling 81-85% of the fed-cattle market compound the problem by manipulating prices, labeling, and supply to profit at the expense of ranchers and consumers alike.
- Reinstating Country-of-Origin Labeling, establishing Section 232 import quotas or tariffs, and enforcing antitrust and Packers-and-Stockyards laws are essential to rebuild domestic capacity and restore fair competition.
Source: COALITION FOR A PROSPEROUS AMERICA - Read Complete Article
