Rollins Defends Trump Beef Import Decision

Rollins also put the 300,000 metric tons into context by pointing to the administration’s restrictions on Mexican cattle due to New World screwworm.

She said more than one million head of cattle that otherwise could have entered the United States remained south of the border during the restrictions.

“What that 300,000 metric tons represents—that the president announced this morning—is about 500,000 head of cattle,” Rollins said. “So, we’re still 500,000 head of cattle less today than we would have been if we’d kept the ports open.”

Rollins stressed that the imports are intended to be lean beef used for ground beef rather than higher-value whole-muscle cuts.

“And this is all lean, right? So, it’s not the really good cuts that America is so good for,” she said.

Despite the short-term import decision, Rollins said increasing domestic cattle numbers remains critical to the administration’s long-term strategy.

“Unless we rebuild our beef herd, we will become more and more reliant on foreign countries to feed and fuel ourselves,” Rollins said. “And that is, as I’ve mentioned, an absolute no-go as we’re working to bring all of this back to America.”

Rollins said she continues to communicate cattle producers’ concerns and market information directly to Trump.

“My commitment is this: I will never stop battling for our farmers and our ranchers and ensuring that our president fully has every data point and detail that he needs to understand,” she said.

Rollins also pointed to strong consumer demand for beef and other proteins as a positive signal for producers.

“In the last year, we’ve seen a 10 percent increase in purchases, even with the prices, which would tell you that people are willing to pay these prices for great American beef and for proteins to put on their plate,” Rollins said.

“The future for American ranchers and for beef has never been brighter.”