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Millions of pounds of Brazilian beef are coming to U.S. markets. Here's what you need to know.
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation in August increasing the amount of lean beef trimmings that can enter the country at lower, in-quota tariff rates. The measure adds 300,000 metric tons — roughly 661 million pounds — of lean beef trimmings to the 2026 tariff-rate quota. The expanded quota runs from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30.
The White House says the move is intended to increase the supply available for ground beef and help make beef more affordable for American consumers.
Why Brazilian Beef Is Part of the Debate
Although the expanded quota is available to eligible trading partners rather than being exclusively reserved for Brazil, much of the discussion has focused on Brazilian beef.
Brazil is already an important beef supplier to the United States, and its meat-exporting establishments must meet USDA requirements to ship beef to the American market.
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service says imported meat must meet the same safety standards applied to domestic products. Imported shipments are also subject to inspection and reinspection before entering U.S. commerce.
What the Administration Says
The White House says the additional imports are necessary because U.S. beef supplies have been tight and prices have remained elevated.
The proclamation says domestic cattle supplies have been affected by market disruptions and that additional lean beef trimmings can help meet demand for ground beef. The administration also says the temporary policy is structured to provide consumers with more supply while giving American ranchers time to rebuild the domestic cattle herd.
Reuters reported that U.S. cattle inventories have fallen to a 75-year low amid drought, wildfires and other supply pressures, contributing to higher beef prices.
Eric Schlosser Raises Food-Safety Concerns
Investigative journalist and Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser has raised a different set of concerns.
Speaking with CBS News' The Takeout, Schlosser criticized the decision to increase imports, arguing that consumers may not see the savings promised by the administration and warning about potential food-safety risks.
Schlosser has particularly focused on lean beef trimmings, which are commonly used to make ground beef. He argues that these trimmings can carry contamination risks and has questioned the safety record of some Brazilian meat producers. His comments are his assessment of the policy and the industry, rather than a finding by U.S. regulators that the imported beef is unsafe.
Imported Beef Still Has to Pass U.S. Inspection
The food-safety picture is more complicated than simply labeling the imported beef as safe or unsafe.
USDA rules require meat imported into the United States to come from countries and establishments that meet federal eligibility requirements. FSIS says foreign inspection systems must provide a level of public-health protection equivalent to the U.S. system, and imported products are subject to inspection at the border.
Brazil is among the countries whose meat-export systems are subject to USDA equivalence reviews and audits.
That does not eliminate food-safety risks, but it does mean imported beef entering U.S. commerce is regulated under federal inspection requirements.
What It Could Mean for Shoppers
The immediate goal of the policy is to increase the supply of beef available for American consumers, particularly lean trimmings used in ground beef.
Whether the additional imports significantly lower prices at grocery stores will depend on how much beef actually enters the country, how quickly it reaches the market and how retailers and meat processors respond.
For consumers, the policy also raises broader questions about the balance between lower food prices, domestic ranching and the regulation of imported meat.
For now, the expanded quota is temporary. The first 100,000-metric-ton tranche opened Sept. 1, with additional tranches scheduled for October and the end of October through November.
Source: CBS News
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