On May 12, live cattle and feeder cattle futures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) experienced declines amid expectations that the Trump administration might facilitate increased beef imports into the U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly refining executive orders aimed at reducing domestic beef prices, which have surged due to strong consumer demand and a dwindling cattle herd. CME June live cattle closed down 1.700 cents at 247.700 cents per pound, while August feeder cattle slid 5.750 cents to 356.550 cents per pound. In the cash market, cattle prices rose to $260 per hundredweight in Kansas and Texas, reflecting a $4 increase from the previous week. The American Farm Bureau Federation expressed concerns that while increased imports could temporarily expand beef supplies, they might weaken ranchers' incentives to rebuild their herds, which have suffered from years of drought and losses. The federation's president, Zippy Duvall, emphasized the fragile recovery of ranchers, stating that plans to boost imports are highly worrying.