Overview
- Attorney General Pam Bondi said the inquiry is underway, led by Antitrust Division chief Abigail Slater in coordination with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
- Trump accused majority foreign-owned packers of collusion and price manipulation and pressed for swift action to protect ranchers and consumers.
- The White House emphasized industry concentration, citing the Big Four—JBS, Cargill, Tyson Foods and National Beef—as controlling roughly 85% of U.S. beef processing.
- Markets reacted to the announcement, with JBS shares down as much as 6.2% and Tyson slipping before rebounding, according to market reports.
- The move follows backlash to plans to expand Argentine beef imports and comes as beef prices reach records tied to drought, a smaller herd and tariffs, with no public evidence of collusion released.