Cattle Futures Rebound After Trump Tariff Rollback

As of November 18, 2025, cattle futures have rebounded after initially declining in response to President Trump's decision last week to roll back tariffs on beef imports. The tariff cuts, which were announced on November 16, 2025, were initially seen as negative for the cattle market, as reduced duties on imports could signal an increase in the supply of beef entering the U.S.

However, by Monday, November 17, 2025, the news had been factored into the markets, according to Rich Nelson, chief strategist for Allendale. CME February live cattle futures settled 2.250 cents higher at 221.775 cents per pound, while January feeder cattle futures ended up 5.725 cents at 326.275 cents per pound.

Traders are now awaiting the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's monthly Cattle on Feed report, scheduled for November 21, 2025. The report is expected to show the seventh consecutive month of lower placements into feedlots, a trend that has been ongoing since the government shutdown in October 2025 prevented the USDA from releasing the previous month's data.

The Trump administration's tariff rollback, which affects more than 200 food products, including beef, is part of a broader effort to address growing concerns among American consumers about the high cost of groceries. The move is also expected to benefit U.S. food companies that have increasingly turned to Australia for beef, often used for making hamburgers, as the U.S. cattle herd has dwindled to its smallest size in decades.