Record beef imports are flooding the U.S. — so why is your Fourth of July BBQ so expensive?

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Outside the Box
Opinion: Record beef imports are flooding the U.S. — so why is your Fourth of July BBQ so expensive?
Beef prices are sizzling and Washington’s recipe for high costs — import more meat — only grills your wallet
This July 4, millions of Americans will fire up their grills and cook plenty of burgers and steaks. But this year’s barbecue comes with a bitter taste: The classic American hamburger is getting harder for working families to afford.
Beef prices in the U.S. keep soaring — up 22% from January 2025 as of May. Decades of poor policy in Washington have hollowed out America’s cattle industry. And yet, lawmakers keep reaching for the same failed answer — more beef imports.

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