09/01/2026
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U.S. CATTLE REPORT 🔔 JBS Co-Owner Met With Trump One Day Before Beef Tariff Waiver
According to The Wall Street Journal, JBS co-owner Joesley Batista met with President Trump in the Oval Office on Aug. 20 to discuss whether lifting the 26% tariff on Brazilian beef could help ease record-high U.S. beef prices. Just one day later, Trump announced a 90-day tariff waiver allowing up to 300,000 metric tons of lean beef trimmings to enter the U.S. duty-free, equal to roughly 2% of annual U.S. beef consumption.
The move could benefit Brazil, the world's largest beef producer, and JBS by expanding access to the U.S. market. However, cattle producers and several Republican lawmakers quickly pushed back, arguing that increasing imports could pressure domestic cattle prices without fixing the underlying supply shortage. The U.S. cattle herd is currently at its lowest level in 75 years, and rebuilding supplies will take years. The timing of Batista's meeting is also drawing scrutiny given JBS's political ties, including a $5 million contribution from subsidiary Pilgrim's Pride toward Trump's inauguration festivities.
