President Trump’s August 21, 2026 strategy to import beef tarifffree has South Dakota Farmers Union President, Doug Sombke concerned for consumers and cattle producers.
“This is not only bad for South Dakota’s cattle producers, but honestly, I am concerned for consumers because with imported beef, we do not know that it has been raised to the same safety standards as American farmers and ranchers follow. When the President said it will be sold at a substantially lower price, this makes me extremely concerned about the quality of the meat. And without Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL), we do not even know where the beef is imported from,” Sombke said. “Here we are in the middle of a public health crisis over imported lettuce and now the President is OK importing beef in abundance.”
A grassroots policy organization, South Dakota Farmers Union has been advocating for MCOOL since it was repealed in 2015.
“Labeling lets consumers know where the beef they purchase to feed their families comes from. If the President is going to let foreign beef flood the market, at least make sure consumers know where it comes from so they can have the choice to purchase U.S. beef,” Sombke said.
Sombke is referencing the following Truth Social post by President Trump: “I concluded a deal to substantially lower the price of ground beef for working American families. As everyone knows, under President Biden, beef prices soared at their fastest rate and the beef herd fell to its smallest size in modern history. As we work to rebuild this herd and help our ranchers, for the next 90 days, the United States will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef to be imported with no out of quota tariff. We have a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices. This deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again.”