A temporary increase in beef imports intended to ease high consumer prices is falling well short of expectations. The Trump administration authorized an additional 300,000 metric tons of beef imports over 90 days, divided into three monthly allocations of 100,000 metric tons each. However, University of Arkansas economist James Mitchell reports just 37,486 metric tons entered under the first allocation through September twenty-eighth.

Mitchell says only a portion of those imports likely represented additional beef that would not otherwise have entered the country. And consumers apparently aren't seeing much relief. An American Farm Bureau Federation analysis found ground beef prices remained unchanged at 30 of 41 grocery stores surveyed nationwide. Despite record U.S. beef imports, tight domestic cattle supplies and strong consumer demand continue supporting historically elevated retail prices.

By: NATHAN STUEDLEA temporary increase in beef imports intended to ease high consumer prices is falling well short of expectations. The Trump administration authorized an additional 300,000 metric tons of beef imports over 90 days, divided into three monthly allocations of 100,000 metric tons each. However, University of Arkansas economist James Mitchell reports just 37,486 metric tons entered under the first allocation through September twenty-eighth.Mitchell says only a portion of those imports likely represented additional beef that would not otherwise have entered the country. And consumers apparently aren't seeing much relief. An American Farm Bureau Federation analysis found ground beef prices remained unchanged at 30 of 41 grocery stores surveyed nationwide. Despite record U.S. beef imports, tight domestic cattle supplies and strong consumer demand continue supporting historically elevated retail prices.

Temporary beef import quota falls short of target