President Donald Trump has ordered the creation of “Food Supply Chain Security Task Forces” to investigate “anti-competitive behavior” among meat processors and other food industry players.
A previous probe into meat industry wound up recently and almost immediately the Department of Justice announced a new investigation into the meat-packing industry.
There have been a multitude of class-action lawsuits alleging price-fixing in the pork, chicken, turkey and beef industries and many out-of-court settlements for hundreds of millions of dollars.
The new Trump-ordered task forces will be created through the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, and will “take all necessary and appropriate actions” in their investigations of not just the food supply chain, but moreover, “whether control of food-related industries by foreign entities is increasing the cost of food products in the United States or creating a national or economic security threat to Americans.”
“Anti-competitive behavior, especially when carried out by foreign-controlled corporations, threatens the stability and affordability of America’s food supply,” Trump’s order said
Should Attorney General Pam Bondi uncover “criminal collusion,” Trump continued, criminal proceedings will commence “as appropriate,” including grand juries. The task forces are to provide updates to numerous congressional leaders first within the next 180 days, and then within the investigation’s first year.
Trump has also eased tariffs and other rules to attract more beef imports from Argentina. He has also been advised to allow more beef imports from Mexico where there are new concerns about screwworms.
