Trump officials weigh rolling back beef import plan as GOP midterm panic spreads

A handful of White House officials are considering scaling back President Donald Trump's plan to boost foreign beef imports, amid growing Republican anxiety prior to the midterm elections, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The proposal to trim the imports' quantity is under discussion within the Domestic Policy Council, led by Vince Haley, a former Trump speechwriter, and other White House officials, according to the sources.

However, it remains uncertain whether any actions will emerge from these deliberations. The U.S. Trade Representative's Office opposes reducing the imports, as it seeks to curb elevated consumer beef prices in the near term and since USTR played a role in executing the policy. The White House is also drafting a plan for diesel exports, potentially with exceptions, due to soaring prices stemming from the Iran conflict.

The White House, USTR, and the Department of Agriculture have not responded to inquiries for comment. In a bold move, Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson, the GOP Senate hopeful, publicly diverged from Trump, attributing high gas prices to the Iran war and expressing concern over farmers' struggles. Similarly, Michigan Senate GOP nominee Mike Rogers and other vulnerable Republicans have echoed these sentiments.

Farm-state lawmakers across Iowa and elsewhere have advocated for White House intervention to alleviate the beef import executive order's consequences for farmers and ranchers. Sen. Chuck Grassley and other senior farm-state lawmakers have urged the administration to alter its stance, but to no avail. Trump issued an executive order offering rancher-friendly measures to address initial opposition, but U.S. Trade Representative Jamie Zamorski confirmed to a closed-door meeting of House Republicans that the beef import action would proceed as initially planned, as previously reported by POLITICO.