Import Duties on Beef Lowered for Three Months

President Trump issued Aug. 26 a proclamation temporarily lowering import duties on lean beef trimmings combined with U.S. beef to produce ground beef.

The U.S. maintains a tariff-rate quota on imports of certain beef products that allows a set volume of covered goods into the U.S. at a lower duty rate, with any additional amounts subject to a higher rate.

According to a White House fact sheet, the proclamation will expand the in-quota amount under this TRQ by a total of 300,000 metric tons. This increase will be administered in three month-long tranches of 100,000 mt each that will be open in September, October, and November. It will apply to lean beef trimmings classifiable under HTSUS 0201.30.5091, 0201.30.5097, 0202.30.5091, and 0202.30.5097.

The proclamation further directs the Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to monitor whether the additional imports are being sold at a price 25 percent below the market price for lean beef trimmings. If not, the president will have the option to eliminate what remains of the increased in‑quota quantity to “prevent a windfall to foreign producers.”

The proclamation said these actions are being taken after a determination that the domestic supply of beef products, including ground beef, “will be inadequate to meet domestic demand at reasonable prices because of natural disasters, disease, or major national market disruptions.”