US should end trade deals on cattle imports: Trump

ANKARA

President Donald Trump said Tuesday the US should consider terminating deals under which it imports cattle from other countries.

“I read yesterday where we take some cattle in from other countries, we have trade deals. I think you should look at terminating those deals," Trump said in a meeting with farmers at the White House.

“We have a lot of cattle in this country,” added the president, who spoke about efforts to support American farmers, ranchers and the food supply chain.

The US imported 532,000 head of cattle in 2020, down 6.5% from 2019, according to industry website Beef2live.com

It imported 346,000 from Mexico in 2020, down more than 5%, and 184,000 from Canada, down 8% from 2019.

Earlier this month, Trump said he had asked the Justice Department to investigate concerns about cattle and beef prices and allegations of collusion among beef packers.

The results from that investigation are still pending.