Grassley Urges U.S. & Canada Return to Negotiating Table & Beef Imports

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the U.S. and Canada need to get back to the negotiating table, which is in the best interests of U.S. farmers, while parting with the president’s approach to lowering beef prices. 

Grassley says it’s time for cooler heads to prevail, given the tens of billions in farm trade between the U.S. and Canada.

Such as Canada’s dairy import restrictions. But Grassley says U.S. farmers need ‘certainty,’ not a new tariff war.

And all made worse by last week’s breakdown in tariff talks.

Grassley, in the meantime, parts with President Trump on his 90-day beef tariff suspension to help reduce consumer prices at home.

Grassley says the answer is more grazing access, lower inspection fees, and more processing plants, not more beef imports. 

As someone who is currently a feedlot cattle producer, the uncertainty in the markets and the oversight is taxing. I sat and watched fat cattle sell on Tuesday and, yes, I believe as beef producers we understood that at some point prices were going to come down, it’s all a part of the risk vs. reward game, but watching the prices decline so drastically over the last month has been worrisome. Especially when the price to purchase was also high. Last month fat cattle sold for an average of 258 cwt and as of Tuesday they were selling for 226 cwt. Stay tuned for my updates throughout the 90 day tariff suspension.