A temporary increase in U.S. beef imports aimed at easing high prices for consumers is falling well short of expectations, according to an agricultural economist.
The Trump administration authorized an additional 300,000 metric tons of beef imports over a 90-day period. The additional imports were divided into three monthly allocations of 100,000 metric tons each.
However, University of Arkansas economist James Mitchell said only about 37,000 metric tons of beef entered the United States under the first allocation through Sept. 28.
Mitchell said the actual impact on beef supplies could be even smaller because only a portion of those imports likely represented additional beef that would not have otherwise entered the U.S. market.
So far, the increased imports also appear to be having little effect on prices consumers are paying at grocery stores.
An American Farm Bureau Federation analysis found ground beef prices remained unchanged at 30 of 41 grocery stores surveyed nationwide.
The import effort comes as the U.S. beef industry continues to deal with tight domestic cattle supplies. Those limited supplies, combined with strong consumer demand, have helped keep retail beef prices historically high even as the United States imports record amounts of beef.
The relatively small volume entering under the temporary allocation suggests additional imports alone may have limited ability to quickly lower grocery store beef prices, particularly while domestic cattle supplies remain constrained and demand remains strong.