UPDATE: U.S. Meat Industry Tariffs June 2025

Tariffs, Tension, and Tenderloins: U.S. Meat Industry Tariffs June 2025 Update on U.S. Meat Policy Impact

As a distributor of beef, pork, poultry—and a Philly steak manufacturer—Ritter Foods continues to track U.S. tariffs closely. Here’s what supermarket managers, buyers, procurement leads, and meat industry colleagues need to know as of June 9, 2025.

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🇺🇸 What’s Changed?

1. Cattle Herds Hit Record Lows
U.S. cattle numbers are at their lowest since the 1950s. According to Omaha Steaks CEO Nate Rempe, this scarcity is fueling elevated prices—+7% for steak, +10% for ground beef, +3% for chicken, and +4% for ham year-over-year ritterfoods.comnypost.com. While herd rebuilding is likely a roughly 12‑month process, tariffs are adding layers of volatility.

2. Tariff Enforcement Remains Firm
April–May 2025 saw the U.S. maintain a 10% minimum across all imports under a broad tariff order, including select agricultural goods nypost.commeatpoultry.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1. China has responded by imposing 10% tariffs on U.S. beef and pork since March 10 . U.S. beef exports—especially to China—are down 7% y/y in early 2025 ers.usda.gov.

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🔍 Breakdowns by Protein

Beef

• Imported trim from Australia, Brazil, Canada is now 10% costlier at entry.
• Reduced exports—especially to China—create temporary U.S. oversupply, complicating carcass value. Beef prices remain historically strong, averaging ~$205/cwt (~10% above 2024) USDA Livestock Outlook

Pork

• U.S. pork exports, especially to China, are down significantly due to retaliatory tariffs .
• Domestic processors are pivoting inventory toward higher-value cuts, resulting in tighter bacon, ribs, and belly supplies. The USDA forecasts a slight drop in pork output for 2025 ritterfoods.com.

Poultry

• Feed, packaging, and equipment costs have climbed due to tariff spillover—raising operational expenses.
• With consumers shifting away from red meat, broiler prices are up; production is projected to rise. Turkey remains high-priced amid limited supply ritterfoods.com.

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✅ Expert Insight

Omaha Steaks CEO Nate Rempe notes:

“Supply pressure is really putting a lot of upward pressure on price… The number of head of cattle in the United States is at a low really not seen since the 1950s” abc.net.au

He expects stabilization by mid-2026, assuming herd rebuilding continues on track.

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🧭 What This Means for You

• Plan Ahead – Extend your lead times beyond weekly cycles.
• Hedge Against Costs – Lock pricing early where possible and monitor trim prices weekly.
• Diversify Suppliers & Cuts – Mix domestic and imported SKUs to buffer volatility.
• Transparent Communication – Share volume forecasts with processors and distributors—forged partnerships win in uncertain markets.

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🔚 Final Cut

Tariffs aren’t just economic policy—they’re market reality. For procurement leads, meat case managers, and supply chain executives, the question isn’t whether they matter—it’s how quickly and strategically you adapt.

At Ritter Foods, we’re actively partnering with buyers and suppliers to keep operations agile, tailored, and proactive. If you’re seeing pressure on specific cuts—or just want to plan ahead—reach out. Market fluctuations are the perfect test of supply chain strength—and those who collaborate best will win.