Agriculture secretary says beef import plan still under discussion

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday that a proposed Trump administration plan to temporarily suspend higher “out-of-quota” tariffs on ground beef imports remains under discussion. Asked about details outside the White House, Rollins said she was not privy to the specifics, adding that “conversations are still going on” with Ambassador Jamieson Greer and that the president is involved. The issue follows backlash among some Republicans over the proposal to pause tariffs on up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef. President Trump announced it Friday, saying the imported products would be sold 25% below market price. Republican lawmakers criticized the move, arguing it could harm American ranchers and make it harder to rebuild herds. The administration points to a historically small U.S. cattle population and a New World screwworm outbreak as drivers of high domestic beef prices.