Trump pledges to allow cattle ranchers to process own food amid beef imports backlash

President faces criticism over plan to import up to 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef without charging higher tariffs

Donald Trump has pledged to allow cattle ranchers and farmers to process their own food amid a backlash from the US agricultural sector over his decision to pause US tariffs on foreign beef.

The US president has been sharply criticized, including from members of his own party , since announcing the US will temporarily import up to 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef without charging higher tariffs in an effort to bring down prices.

Republican lawmakers have warned in recent days that “flooding” stores with imports will hit US ranchers, suggesting that the move is a short-term solution that will hinder cattle farmers from building out their herd, amid a 75-year low.

In a statement on Friday, Trump praised farmers and ranchers – describing them as “smart, efficient, and immaculately CLEAN” on social media – and claimed the agricultural sector had “always been a number one priority for me”.

“For years I have heard that they have had a tremendous problem with the Big Processors, who many say are a nasty Monopoly,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, referring to food processing companies. “There are, essentially, 4 of them, a very non competitive number, and they make life miserable for our wonderful Farmers and Ranchers, and I can’t let that happen, can I?

“So, in order to break this powerful monopoly, with much of its ownership based outside of the U.S., I am authorizing legal documents to be drawn in order to allow Farmers and Ranchers to be given the right to PROCESS THEIR OWN FOOD. This should move quickly.”

It comes after Trump’s interview with the conservative commentator Glenn Beck earlier this week, during which the radio host and ranch owner implored Trump to “look at” the “meat processing cartel” and suggested easing regulations for ranchers to slaughter their own cattle and sell.

Brooke Rollins, Trump’s agriculture secretary said there would be “big announcements” next week to facilitate the president’s plan to allow ranchers and farmers the ability to process their own food.

Rollins said it was a “matter of national security” that the US was able to “feed and fuel ourselves”. She outlined that her department would waive “red tape in processing” and expand ranchers ability to “sell across state lines”, as well as other measures.

However, it is not clear what authority the administration has to enact these changes, since there are strict regulatory requirements in place, and a bill that would ease US Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspections for small ranches and farmers to sell meat directly to consumers is now stalled in Congress.

Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman from Kentucky and one of the bipartisan sponsors of the bill, said the president’s action was “great” but “it should be a law, not just an executive order”.