Rep. Troy Downing (R-Mont.) said President Trump’s plan to pause tariffs on 300,000 tons of ground-beef imports has already affected the market, urging the administration to consult lawmakers and industry stakeholders before making such decisions. The exemption removes out-of-quota tariffs (charges on imports beyond a set allowance) for 90 days and is intended to ease high food prices, while Trump has also threatened Canada with 50 percent tariffs on its goods. Senate Republicans, including Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), have criticized the move, warning that subsidized or cheaper imports could hurt producers without delivering lasting price reductions. Downing said Montana has about twice as many cows as people and that ranchers need market stability. U.S. 100 percent ground beef averaged roughly $6.89 per pound, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shared by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, while the national cattle herd is at an all-time or historic low amid factors including drought and limited grazing land.