Smith Opposed To Importing Foreign Beef

Rep. Jason Smith, who represents Crawford County in Missouri’s 8th Congressional District, criticized a decision last week to import foreign beef as prices continue to climb.

Smith is the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and his official X account lists him as a farmer.

Smith said President Donald Trump “is rightly focused on making life more affordable” but forcing the “cattlemen and women — who have weathered years of drought along with the high costs of food, fuel, and fertilizer — to shoulder the burden of lowering beef prices won’t solve the issue.”

Smith said this tactic will make the problem “worse” if ranchers don’t have the certainty and ability to increase the size of their herd.

Instead, Smith suggested growing the American herd, strengthening competition between meatpackers and lowering costs associated with farming.

“American First means American beef,” Smith concluded.

It’s not the first time Smith has criticized the Trump administration’s plan to import beef.

In October 2025, Smith expressed issued a statement on the plan to import Argentine beef.

Neither of Josh Hawley or Eric Schmitt, who represent Missouri in the United States Senate, have issued statements on the current plan to import beef.

Both the Missouri Farm Bureau and Missouri Cattlemen’s Association have come out against the imports as well.

“We understand the desire to provide relief to American families facing high grocery costs, but additional market intervention in the cattle market is the wrong approach,” said MOFB President Garrett Hawkins.