WASHINGTON, Aug 28 - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he is preparing a legal order that would grant farmers and ranchers the right to process their own food, a move he framed as an effort to dismantle what he called a "nasty monopoly" among the nation's top processors.
In a post on Truth Social, the president did not identify a specific food category or industry but indicated he was "authorizing legal documents to be drawn" quickly. Earlier in the week he said he would review whether there are excessive regulations affecting beef processing plants.
Representatives for the White House did not respond immediately to requests for more information about the scope or timing of the order. The announcement arrives while consumers continue to face elevated grocery prices as the nation approaches the November midterm election.
The domestic meat processing industry is also contending with what has been characterized as a 75-year trough in supply, a situation in which rising cattle costs have outpaced gains from higher retail prices. The industry is highly concentrated: roughly 85% of U.S. meat processing is controlled by four large firms - Cargill; Tyson Foods; JBS USA; and National Beef Packing Co.
Last week, the president said additional ground beef could be imported into the United States without tariffs. Separately, the Justice Department has disclosed an inquiry into whether meatpacking firms unlawfully pushed up consumer beef prices.
Context and market signals
The president's comments reiterate his recent focus on the structure and regulation of meat processing and highlight a political effort to address price pressures felt by consumers. The administration's next steps - including the legal form the president referenced - have not been detailed publicly.
What remains unclear
The announcement leaves several open questions: which products or segments (if any) will be directly affected; what legal mechanisms the administration will use; and how quickly any changes could be implemented. Officials have not provided clarifying guidance.
Implications
- Potential changes to processing rights could alter competitive dynamics in meatpacking and related agricultural supply chains.
- Regulatory reviews and import policy shifts may affect retail prices and availability for consumers.
- Ongoing investigations by the Justice Department could lead to further scrutiny of industry conduct.