Trump Admin Says Beef Costs May Hit $10 per Pound Due to Migrants

[ad_1] Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has claimed beef costs are rising due to immigrants bringing diseased cattle throughout the border.

Chatting with Fox Enterprise Sunday, Bessent addressed experiences that beef costs may hit $10 per pound subsequent yr, saying it was a difficulty “inherited” by the administration as a result of long-standing elements.

“There’s additionally, due to the mass immigration, a illness that we’d been rid of in North America made its approach up by means of South America as these migrants introduced a few of their cattle with them,” Bessent mentioned.

He added: “So a part of the issue is we’ve needed to shut the border to Mexican beef due to this illness known as the screwworm.”

Why It Issues Beef continues to be in excessive demand throughout the U.S., and rising costs are placing strain on family budgets.

Whereas dangers of screwworm an infection have halted commerce from Mexico, international provide makes up a small share of U.S. cattle, and proof doesn't assist Bessent’s declare that particular person migrants are bringing in diseased cattle.

<img id="11057412" alt="" caption="Cattle graze near the US-Mexico border wall in Nogales, Arizona, on September 16, 2025." captionoverride="Cattle graze near the U.S.-Mexico border wall in Nogales, Arizona, on September 16, 2025." credit="CHARLY TRIBALLEAU" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="7374" height="4918" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2235284821.jpg?w=640&quality=75&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2235284821.jpg?w=750&quality=75&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2235284821.jpg?w=1000&quality=75&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2235284821.jpg?w=1200&quality=75&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2235284821.jpg?w=1360&quality=75&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2235284821.jpg?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2235284821.jpg?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1"/> What To Know Omaha Steaks President and CEO Nate Rempe advised Fox Enterprise that by subsequent yr, a pound of beef may value $10 as a result of shrinking cattle herds and rising calls for.

Rempe famous that cattle herds are at a 70-year low, which has come because of years of droughts which have diminished grazing land, together with greater bills for elevating livestock.

The September client worth index knowledge from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics exhibits that numerous beef merchandise rose between round 12 and 18 p.c prior to now yr.

The New World screwworm Bessent referenced — a parasitic fly that eats cattle and different warm-blooded animals alive — has been spreading in Central America and Mexico, and prompted Washington to droop cattle imports from Mexico in Could.

Round 1 million cattle come from Mexico per yr, which makes up round 1 p.c of the whole cattle herd in america.

There have been no confirmed instances of contaminated cattle within the U.S. up to now. Officers have mentioned the dangers of the parasite reaching U.S. cattle comes from the livestock commerce, each authorized and unlawful, however haven't mentioned the chance comes from particular person migrants touring with cattle.

Whereas screwworm considerations have affected cattle provide, consultants have famous it's not the primary driver of rising prices.

Rempe mentioned that “international provide is a part of the image,” however famous that Argentine beef solely makes up about 2 p.c of the whole beef provide in America.

President Donald Trump has acknowledged the excessive worth of beef, and has taken some steps to deal with it. This contains asserting plans to import extra beef from Argentina, and signing an government order rolling again the steep “reciprocal” tariffs on beef and different merchandise which have seen worth will increase, as reported by CNN.

In response to Fox Enterprise, Trump additionally mentioned he had directed the Division of Justice (DOJ) to analyze main meatpacking corporations within the U.S., which he accused of driving up beef costs by means of "illicit collusion, worth fixing and worth manipulation."

What Folks Are Saying President Donald Trump advised Fox Information on November 5: “Groceries are approach down, aside from beef. Now, beef goes to come back down. , we've to try this.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent advised Fox Enterprise on Sunday: “The meat market is a really specialised market, it goes in lengthy cycles, and that is the right storm — once more, one thing we inherited.”

What Occurs Subsequent Beef costs are anticipated to remain elevated by means of 2026 as U.S. ranchers proceed to rebuild herds. It stays unsure whether or not easing import restrictions and tariff changes will finally assist carry prices down.