Trump accuses foreign-owned meatpacking companies of inflating the price of American beef

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday accused foreign-owned meatpackers of raising beef prices in the United States and asked the Justice Department to open an investigation.

The Republican president announced the move on social media days after his party suffered losses in key elections in which the winning Democratic candidates focused relentlessly on the public’s concerns about the cost of living.

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“I have asked the Department of Justice to immediately begin an investigation into meatpacking companies that raise beef prices through illegal collusion, price fixing, and price gouging,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

He continued: “We will always protect our American ranchers, and they are being blamed for what the majority of foreign-owned meatpackers are doing, who artificially inflate prices and put the security of our country’s food supply at risk.”

Trump did not provide any evidence to support his claims.

Beef prices have risen to record highs in part after a drought and years of low prices led to the smallest U.S. herd size in decades. Trump’s tariffs on Brazil, a major beef exporter, have also restricted imports.

The focus on the meatpacking business has long been a concern for farmers and politicians on both sides of the aisle. There are four major meat packing companies in the United States, and the largest beef company, JBS, is headquartered in Brazil. JBS USA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

“Immediate action must be taken to protect consumers, combat illegal monopolies, and ensure that these companies do not make criminal profits at the expense of the American people,” Trump said.

Last month, Trump suggested that the United States buy Argentine beef to lower skyrocketing prices for American consumers, angering American ranchers.

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Trump’s accusations renewed the presidential battle between the Republican and Democratic parties against rising food prices.

Then-President Joe Biden spoke with independent farmers and ranchers about initiatives to lower food prices by increasing competition within the meat industry. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who was defeated by Trump for re-election last year, used her campaign to pledge to crack down on “price gouging” food producers and major supermarkets.

Karnovsky reported from Minneapolis.