Tyson Foods IncTyson clashes with USDA over whether foreign buyers can purchase its closed beef plant, with Tyson saying any buyer will be considered.
Tyson Foods, the U.S. meat giant, and Agriculture Secretary Rollins have publicly disagreed over the sale of a recently closed beef processing plant. Rollins stated that buyers would be limited to U.S.-owned companies or cooperatives, including U.S. producers, and said he had received verbal assurances from Tyson CEO Donnie King. Tyson, however, said that any buyer, foreign or domestic, would be considered, and a spokesperson confirmed that the policy had not changed. Tyson, Cargill, JBS USA, and National Beef Packing process about 85% of U.S. grain-fed cattle. JBS USA is a subsidiary of Brazil's JBS, and National Beef is majority-owned by Brazil's Marfrig Global Foods. With foreign companies controlling a significant portion of U.S. beef processing capacity, beef prices in the U.S. have risen to record highs this year due to cattle supply shortages, becoming a political issue ahead of the midterm elections. The Trump administration has expressed concerns about foreign ownership of domestic beef processing facilities while also taking steps to encourage imports of ground beef. Last month, it announced that 300,000 tons of foreign beef would be allowed in at reduced tariffs for 90 days, drawing backlash from meat industry groups and ranchers.
Tyson Foods IncTyson clashes with USDA over whether foreign buyers can purchase its closed beef plant, with Tyson saying any buyer will be considered.
JBS N.V.Tyson dispute over plant sale buyer restrictions involves JBS as a foreign-owned peer controlling US beef capacity, but no JBS-specific development.
Marfrig's majority ownership of National Beef is cited as context in the foreign-ownership debate, with no Marfrig-specific development.
National Beef is named as a foreign-owned processor amid policy debate over foreign ownership, but no company-specific action.