Trump moves to strip endangered species protection for grey wolves
The measures, signed on Friday in the Oval Office, come as the US cattle herd has fallen to its lowest level in about 75 years, sending retail beef prices to record highs and putting pressure on the administration to find ways to increase supplies. To increase supplies and ease prices for consumers, the administration last week temporarily expanded access to lower-tariff imports of lean beef trimmings by 300,000 metric tonnes over three months. United States President Donald Trump has signed executive orders aimed at tackling soaring beef prices in the US by giving cattle ranchers more freedom to protect their herds from wolves, supporting smaller meat processors and pushing for greater information about where beef comes from.
Trump said the orders would make it easier for farmers and ranchers to process and sell meat from their own operations. One of the measures also addresses ranchers’ concerns about gray wolves, which they say can attack cattle, particularly calves. The move comes as cattle producers are already unhappy with the administration’s efforts to increase beef imports.
Trump, however, has said imports can provide short-term relief for consumers while the US works to rebuild its cattle herd. Trump said further action would require Congress to approve changes. “It will be easy,” Trump said.
The policy has angered some cattle producers, who argue that bringing in more foreign beef could make it less attractive for ranchers to increase domestic production.