Paraguay Beef Producers: President Trump's Beef Policies Are Lowering Prices for American Families

The Paraguayan Chamber of Meat (CPC) today welcomed recent relief in U.S. ground beef prices and urged the Trump Administration to grant Paraguay a dedicated beef quota, citing the country's rising production, growing exports and commitment to the United States as a trusted partner in the Western Hemisphere.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ground beef prices fell 1.3% in September – the largest monthly decline since 2024. U.S. imports of Paraguayan beef rose 46% from January through July 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. Shipments reached 43,000 metric tons through September. USDA also forecasts Paraguay's total 2027 beef exports at 460,000 tons carcass weight equivalent, demonstrating expanding production and strong supply capacity...

Four Weeks In: Assessing the Market Response to the Expanded Beef Tariff-Rate Quota

Four weeks after the September 1 launch of the United States’ temporary 300,000 metric ton (MT) beef tariff-rate quota expansion, market data have so far provided limited evidence of a broad consumer-price response associated with the additional tariff-free import volume.

Below, Expana examines the market’s reaction to date and highlights key watchpoints for the weeks ahead.

Wholesale and Producer Prices Move Modestly Lower

The US boxed beef cutout (Choice, 600/900 total carcass value) has traded in a narrow band since the September 1 effective date, moving from $3.70/lb to $3.66/lb as of September 25...

ANALYSIS: October Seasonality—US Domestic Boneless Beef vs. Imported Beef

Over ten years, the pattern is that October prices the domestic lean market below September without exception, while fat trim recovers within the month from a depressed base, and imported lean does very little at all. October is a weaker month than September for domestic 90s on the measure that matters most for cost, and a far more volatile one for fats. 

Throughout this report the four series are referred to by name: fresh 90s and fresh 50s for the two US domestic chemical lean items, Aust/NZ blend cow 90% and Brazil 90% for the two imported items. Codes appear...

Farmers Renew Call to End Increased Beef Imports

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall today called on President Trump to roll back plans to import an additional 300,000 metric tons of beef into the United States. An American Farm Bureau Federation analysis shows increasing imports has had little impact on ground beef prices at the grocery store. Meanwhile, cattle prices have weakened, with ranchers experiencing losses up to $300 to $400 per head.

“America’s farmers and ranchers are renewing their call to the president to reverse course on his plan to import foreign-raised beef. While we appreciate Mr. Trump’s goal of reducing grocery costs for America’s families, increasing beef imports has not brought prices down...

Duvall Comments on Meeting with President

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on his meeting with President Trump and the executive orders signed today [September 4, 2026], which address several issues impacting America’s ranchers.

“I had the important opportunity today to speak with President Trump after the Oval Office event to let him know that the plan to increase beef imports is hurting farm families. I shared with him that we have witnessed significant price drops for cattle across the country. It has caused a setback to rebuilding the U.S. herd. We’ll continue to urge the administration...

ANALYSIS: Imported Lean Beef at a Discount: AU/NZ and Brazil 90% CL vs US Domestic—A 26-Year Spread

This analysis benchmarks the landed cost of imported 90% lean boneless beef — AU/NZ Cow EC (Expana series 3555) and Brazil EC (19388) — against US domestic 90% fresh trim (1067) across 26 years of monthly Expana EBP price data, from January 2000 through June 2026. The spread between imported and domestic 90% is one of the most closely watched metrics in the US grinding complex, directly influencing blending decisions, forward contract strategy, and import demand...

ANALYSIS: Japan’s Q1 2026 Beef Imports Surge 13% YOY, Australia Reclaims Lead

Japan’s beef imports maintained robust upward momentum through the first quarter of 2026, defying a punishing macroeconomic environment.

Year-to-date (YTD) volumes through March reached 104,987 metric tons (MT), representing a solid 13.0% increase (+12,072 MT) compared to the same period in 2025, according to the latest data from Trade Statistics of Japan.

This recovery is meaningful following a dismal 2025, where Japan’s total beef imports fell to 496,166 MT, the lowest in a decade...

China Imposes Additional 55% Tariffs on Imported Beef

China today (December 31) imposed additional 55% tariffs on beef imports from countries ⁠including Brazil, Australia and the US when shipments exceed certain quotas, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).

The tariffs will apply to imported beef, effective January 1, 2026, according to the ministry.

The measures take effect ahead of the investigation’s revised January 26 deadline, marking a sharp shift in the pace of the case, with many of the most affected suppliers caught during the year-end Christmas and New Year closures.

A Chinese importer told Expana today