Trump Orders DOJ Investigation Into Foreign Meat Packers Over Rising US Beef Prices

President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Justice to investigate foreign-owned meat packing companies, accusing them of artificially inflating beef prices across the United States.

Trump announced this initiative on social media following recent Democratic victories in key elections where cost of living concerns dominated voter priorities.

"I have asked the DOJ to immediately begin an investigation into the Meat Packing Companies who are driving up the price of Beef through Illicit Collusion, Price Fixing, and Price Manipulation," Trump stated in his post.

He emphasized his commitment to American ranchers, stating, "We will always protect our American Ranchers, and they are being blamed for what is being done by Majority Foreign Owned Meat Packers, who artificially inflate prices, and jeopardize the security of our Nation's food supply."

Beef prices have reached record highs due to multiple factors, including drought conditions and years of low prices that have reduced the US cattle herd to its smallest size in decades. Trump's tariffs on Brazilian beef imports have further limited supply while consumer demand for beef remains robust, with little shift toward alternative proteins despite rising costs.

Market concentration has long concerned farmers and politicians across party lines, with four major companies controlling the American beef market. JBS, headquartered in Brazil, stands as America's largest beef producer and second-largest poultry and pork producer, deriving half its annual revenue from US operations where it employs over 72,000 people.

This isn't the first time JBS has faced price-fixing allegations. In 2022, the company agreed to a $52.5 million settlement with grocery stores and wholesalers who claimed JBS, Tyson Foods, and others conspired to suppress cattle slaughter volumes to drive up beef prices. JBS did not admit wrongdoing in that settlement. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment on Trump's latest accusations.

Republican Senators Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, Cindy-Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, and Tim Sheehy of Montana reportedly met with Trump at the White House to discuss volatility in the beef market, after which Trump agreed to pursue Department of Justice involvement. Senator Mullin compared current market conditions to those that prompted a 2019 antitrust lawsuit against major meatpackers.

Trump previously sparked controversy among US cattle ranchers by suggesting America might import Argentine beef to reduce domestic prices for consumers.

This initiative continues a bipartisan approach to addressing food price inflation. Trump's predecessor, President Joe Biden, engaged with independent farmers and ranchers about increasing competition in the meat industry to lower food costs. Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Trump defeated in the recent election, campaigned on promises to crack down on alleged price gouging by food producers and major supermarkets.