Trump promised 300,000 tons of beef imports at lower tariff rates to reduce grocery costs. Instead, shipments have lagged and prices haven’t budged

At the nexus of an ongoing affordability crisis and midterm election push, the Trump administration's effort to reduce beef prices appears to be falling short.

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation in August to temporarily increase the quantity of beef in the U.S. by importing 300,000 metric tons of lean beef trimmings into the country at a reduced tariff rate. The imports were scheduled over 90 days, from September through November.

"This deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again," Trump wrote on Truth Social announcing the policy.

But as of Oct. 19, the U.S. has imported just 59,423 metric tons of beef, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data , or just 20% of the target. And ground beef averaged $6.79 per pound as of September, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data , down from $6.92 in August, but still above $6.32 a year ago.

This 7% year-over-year increase in beef, due to persistently high demand as well as dwindling herd sizes, has far outpaced the 2.5%-2.9% hike in overall U.S. grocery prices, which has become representative of America's affordability woes. Trump has identified beef prices as a key issue to address during the second half of his term, as he targets policy toward the typically loyal Republican base of farmers.

"It really became unacceptable to the voter," Trump said last month. "And we do have to get elected, because if we're not going to get elected, your ranchers and your farmers are in big trouble."

But both farmers and agricultural economists are doubtful that 300,000 tons of imported beef will deliver price cuts, arguing the initiative is ineffective at best, and a financial strain during an already challenging period for the industry at worst.

"The simple assumption there was that if we can just increase supply of beef in the U.S., that should lower prices," Derrell Peel, a professor of agribusiness specializing in livestock at Oklahoma State University, told Fortune . "Unfortunately, the beef industry is much more complex than that."

The White House did not immediately respond to Fortune 's request for comment.

Why Trump's push for lower beef costs are falling short

Part of why Americans aren't seeing a noticeable difference in beef costs is because the type of beef being sent from overseas doesn't typically hit retail shelves, Peel noted. Lean beef trimmings are often combined with fatty trimmings produced from cattle in American feed lots. This combination of beef is usually used by fast food restaurants, not grocery stores where many American consumers are looking for relief.