In a strong show of support from the American cattle industry, President Donald Trump’s newly announced reciprocal tariffs—particularly the 10% duty on imported beef—are receiving praise from ranchers and industry advocates across the country. The tariffs, aimed at leveling the playing field for American producers, target major exporters including Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand, countries that U.S. ranchers say have benefited from unfair trade advantages for years.
Steve Lucie, a fifth-generation cattle rancher from Illinois, says these changes are long overdue. “A lot of countries have been imposing tariff and non-tariff trade barriers on American beef for years,” Lucie explains. “It’s time we push back and protect our product and our producers.”
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) echoes this sentiment, stating that President Trump is finally addressing long-standing trade barriers that have limited American beef exports. Ethan Lane, NCBA’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, emphasizes that this is not about starting a trade war but about ensuring fairness in the global market. “For too long, America’s family farmers and ranchers have been mistreated by certain trading partners,” Lane states. “President Trump is taking action to address these inequities.”
Over the past decade, U.S. ranchers have faced steep tariffs and bureaucratic hurdles from foreign governments, including tariffs as high as 50% from countries like Thailand and Vietnam. Meanwhile, Australian beef exports to the U.S. have skyrocketed, reaching nearly $3 billion last year—almost double the volume from five years ago—despite limited reciprocal access for U.S. beef in the Australian market.
These imbalances have strained domestic ranchers, many of whom say they are not opposed to competition but demand a level playing field. The new tariffs, ranchers argue, will allow U.S. beef to remain competitive by reducing the influx of lower-cost foreign meat and ensuring that American ranchers receive fair prices for their cattle.
However, the broader agricultural community is split. While the cattle industry largely supports the move, some farming sectors are voicing concern over potential retaliation. The American Farm Bureau Federation and other commodity groups warn that retaliatory tariffs could harm exporters of soybeans, corn, and pork. These groups stress that trade disputes, if prolonged, could hurt American farmers already facing uncertain weather, inflation, and rising operational costs.
Despite these concerns, the administration remains firm in its position. President Trump maintains that reciprocal tariffs are necessary to reassert American sovereignty in global trade and protect industries from economic exploitation.
As trade talks continue and global reactions unfold, U.S. ranchers are standing firmly behind the administration. Whether this policy results in broader agricultural gains or unintended backlash remains to be seen, but for cattle producers like Steve Lucie, it represents a long-awaited shift in federal priorities.
Source Links:
https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/trump-tariffs-trade-war-stock-market-04-03-2025/card/u-s-cattlemen-cheer-trump-s-tariff-plan-PPBE2ddyCIssY79z0kAt
https://www.ncba.org/ncba-news/news-releases/news/details/42456/ncba-statement-on-white-house-reciprocal-tariff-announcement
https://www.drovers.com/news/ag-policy/beef-industry-sees-some-silver-linings-reciprocal-tariffs-go-effect
https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-farm-food-groups-largely-critical-trump-tariffs-2025-04-03/
https://youtu.be/tQyxL3GY-8k
