Policy Solutions President Jay Truitt questions how much the tariff-free beef imports will actually affect retail beef prices. ““Three hundred thousand metric tons may sound like a lot to somebody; that’s 20 to 24 days’ worth of supply, and you’re really talking about the hot dog, frozen dinner, frozen pizza market, et cetera,” Truitt told RRFN. “It’s kind of a nothing burger, in some respects, but the reality is that it does set just this crazy precedent for us doing some really bizarre stuff inside of what is already a stressed market.” Truitt said tight cattle supplies remain the bigger long-term market factor. He also said the limited reopening of cattle trade with Mexico is unlikely to bring enough cattle into the U.S. to significantly change the supply picture.
