President Trump Alleges Illicit Collusion in Meat Industry
Former President Donald Trump has publicly accused foreign-owned meat packing corporations of artificially inflating the cost of beef for American consumers. The Republican leader made these allegations in a social media post, directly asking the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch an immediate investigation into the companies for what he termed "illicit collusion, price fixing, and price manipulation."
The announcement came just days after Trump's party suffered significant losses in key elections. In those races, victorious Democratic candidates had heavily focused their campaigns on voters' growing anxieties about the high cost of living, making economic concerns a central issue.
Call for Justice Department Probe
In his post, Trump stated, "I have asked the DOJ to immediately begin an investigation into the Meat Packing Companies who are driving up the price of Beef." He further claimed that the situation jeopardises the security of the nation's food supply and that American ranchers are being unfairly blamed for the actions of "Majority Foreign Owned Meat Packers."
However, the former president did not offer any concrete evidence or proof to support his serious allegations. He concluded his call to action by saying, "Action must be taken immediately to protect Consumers, combat Illegal Monopolies, and ensure these Corporations are not criminally profiting at the expense of the American People."
Broader Context of Rising Food Prices
This is not the first time Trump has commented on beef prices. Last month, he suggested the US might purchase Argentine beef to lower costs for American shoppers, a proposal that angered domestic cattle ranchers.
The issue of high beef prices is complex. Market analysts point to a severe drought and years of low prices that have led to the smallest US cattle herd size in decades, a key factor in the supply shortage. Furthermore, tariffs imposed on major beef exporter Brazil during Trump's own presidency have also acted to curb imports, reducing market competition.
Trump's recent accusations continue a bipartisan pattern of presidential focus on food costs. President Joe Biden has previously met with independent farmers and ranchers to discuss initiatives aimed at increasing competition within the meat industry. Similarly, then Vice-President Kamala Harris used her campaign to pledge a crackdown on "price gouging" by large food producers and supermarket chains.
