National Beef
Coverage of National Beef in the Nexus archive.
- US beef exports decrease, while imports increase under Trump
US beef exports are declining while imports are rising due to a shrinking cattle herd caused by drought and the New World screwworm. Ranchers oppose increased imports, arguing they harm profits, and the Trump administration's trade policies have led to higher imports from Argentina and Brazil, with JBS, a major Brazilian meatpacker, benefiting from the shift. Beef exports to China have also dropped significantly under Trump's tariff policies.
- Low cattle numbers raise fears of another beef packing plant shutdown
Low U.S. cattle herd numbers, driven by drought, have led to concerns about beef packing plant closures. Tyson Foods recently shut down a Nebraska plant, causing job losses, and industry experts warn of further shutdowns due to declining cattle supplies and consolidated market control by four major companies.
- DOJ investigating meatpacking companies after Trump price manipulation allegations
The U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust division is investigating Cargill, JBS, National Beef, and Tyson Foods for potential criminal anti-competitive conduct, following allegations of price manipulation. The investigation, reported by Bloomberg, focuses on whether these major meatpacking companies engaged in practices that distorted market competition.