Letter to Brazil: Trump Cites "Witch Hunt" While Charging 50% Tariff

US President Trump has charged 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports to the States, according to a letter to Brazilian President Lula.

This week, reciprocal tariffs were re-announced in the form of letters from the US Trump administration to trading partners who could not reach a deal within the previously granted 90-day pause. And what a fun week it's been for tariffs' "watchers on the wall."

Letters to 22 trading partners were sent with new tariff rates that will be implemented on August 1...

Burger King Invites Guests to Shape the Menu with New “Whopper by You” Platform

Staying true to its promise, Burger King is giving guests the chance to quite literally “Have it [Their] Way” all summer long.

Beginning July 15 and for a limited time, fans can submit their dream Whopper builds via the brand’s new interactive “Whopper by You” platform.

To kick off the campaign, BK is rolling out its first guest-inspired creation: the BBQ Brisket Whopper and BBQ Brisket Whopper Jr.

The BBQ Brisket Whopper features slow-cooked BBQ brisket, crispy onions, American cheese...

Trump Announces August 1 Tariffs — Here's the Full List

Global leaders are receiving news on their countries' US tariff rates this week, as President Donald Trump dispatched approximately 20 letters by Wednesday afternoon.

The tariff rates, which range from 20% to 40%, are set to take effect on August 1, unless new negotiations or trade deals are reached in the coming weeks. Trump signed an executive order establishing an August 1 deadline for implementing his “reciprocal” tariffs. He remained firm on social media, emphasizing that it marked the final cutoff for any new trade agreements...

Trump Tariff Letters Continue to Roll Out; Philippines Faces 20% Tariff

President Trump has sent a new batch of letters to several countries, including the Philippines, notifying them of new US tariff rates set to take effect on August 1, giving them a short window to renegotiate trade terms before the deadline.

On July 8, Trump stated that a minimum of seven countries would be released, with an additional group to be released in the afternoon.

Despite multiple tariff implementation delays already, Trump was steadfast and set August 1 as a hard deadline in a social media...

ANALYSIS: US Boneless Beef Imports Fall in June After a Rush in May

The US imported 81,285 metric tons (mt) of boneless beef in June, according to the latest Food Safety and Inspection Service Report. Compared to May, this is a decrease of 8,420 mt or 9.4%. Volumes in May grew as market participants worked quickly to get material in the country before the new tariff implementation.

 June posted a jump of 23,787 mt or 41.4% year-over-year (YOY), with 2025 continuing to stay well above 2024 levels. As...

ANALYSIS: Pork Exports Drop in May with Offsetting Gains from Mexico and South America

In May, total US pork exports declined 3.7% year-over-year with the month-over-month total also lower 3.1% versus April.

Mexico, continued to be the top destination, booking 218.4 million pounds, up 6.4% month-over-month and 3.9% year-over-year. Even though volumes cooled slightly from March to April, year-to-date exports remain near the record-breaking levels of 2024.  The United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF) attributes the upswing not to tariff shifts, but to strong Mexican demand and competitive...

The Retail Rundown: Retailers Push Value to Maintain Protein Momentum

Retail meat clearance over the Independence Day holiday was generally strong, with consumers stocking up on grilling staples for the summer’s flagship cookout occasion.

With few major buying events remaining this summer, grocers will likely push aggressive features and highlight value finds to sustain shopper engagement through the dog days of summer.

Post-holiday protein advertisements show seafood maintaining the lead at 33.1% of retail features, followed by beef at 25.1% and pork at 21.5%. Chicken accounted for 16.2%, while turkey fell to just 2%—half of the previous week's...

Trump Letters Reveal August 1 Tariff Rates for Key US Trading Partners

The Trump administration was busy after the Fourth of July holiday, as the President sent out a litany of letters to US trading partners revealing what their tariff rate would be starting on August 1.

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump and members of the administration announced that letters would begin rolling out showcasing new tariff rates for countries. The letters came at a rapid pace on Monday afternoon, with messages dispatched to the leaders of Japan, South Korea and South Africa, to name a few...

Wendy’s Names Interim CEO Amid Leadership Changes

Wendy’s announced the appointment of its Interim CEO Tuesday, following reports of its current President and CEO, Kirk Tanner's resignation. Tanner will depart for The Hershey Company effective July 18.

In response, the Wendy’s Board of Directors has launched a comprehensive search process to identify a permanent CEO.

Meanwhile, Chief Financial Officer Ken Cook has been appointed by the Board to serve as Interim CEO until Tanner’s successor is in place.

"It has been a privilege to lead Wendy's, an iconic brand, and I leave with a sense of gratitude...

JBS Ships First Beef Cargo to Vietnam

JBS has exported 27 tons of beef to Vietnam, the Brazilian company said. This is the first shipment to the country by JBS. The beef originated from JBS’ Mozarlândia plant, one of the two plants recently authorized for beef exports to Vietnam. The other approved facility was JBS’ Goiânia processing plant.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture Carlos Fávaro earlier this week as part of the prime minister’s visit to Rio de Janeiro for the BRICS Summit. During the visit, the prime minister attended...

Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline

US President Donald Trump and his administration have paused reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown... I am hereby raising the [tariff] charged to China by the [USA] to 125%, effective immediately,” wrote Trump on Truth Social at 1:18 pm ET. 

It’s not clear if this 125% is in addition to the 20% imposed on Chinese imports to the US. In early March, Trump noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods...

ANALYSIS: Brazil’s Beef Exports Reached 1.28 Million mt in 1H-2025, Up 36% YOY

The latest data released by Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services revealed that the country exported 241,092 mt of fresh beef (chilled and frozen) in June, down 9.7% MoM but 2.9% higher than June 2024. This brings total shipments in the first half of 2025 to 1,286,729 mt, reflecting a notable 36% growth compared to the same period last year.

Brazilian beef exports to China showed solid growth in the first half of 2025, reaching 631,720 mt...

ANALYSIS: Australia Delivers Record Beef Exports in June 2025, 1H Up 16.8% YOY

Australia’s beef exports surged to a record high in June 2025, reaching 134,596 metric tons (mt), according to data from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). The volume topped the previous peak set in October 2024 by 4,548 mt and marked a third straight month of growth.

Robust demand from China, Canada, Japan and Korea underpinned the gains, while shipments to its largest destination, the United States (US) declined. On a monthly basis, volumes climbed 4.0% or 5,118 mt...

Why Expana’s New Beef Forecast Deserve Your Attention

In a strategic move to bolster its comprehensive red meat market coverage, Expana is introducing a new price forecast for 167A 4 Round, Knuckle, Peeled Beef. 

While the company already delivers over 300 red meat price forecasting series, this new addition seals a crucial gap for stakeholders whose contracts and margins hinge on cut-specific pricing. 

“Forecasting is essential for businesses looking to better understand market dynamics and to make better commercial decisions,” explained Bruno Whittaker, Forecast Analyst at Expana. “ 

“Our forecasts are built on historical...

US to Impose 25% Tariff on Japanese and Korean Imports Starting August 1

President Donald Trump's tariff letters are being rolled out, with Korea and Japan at the forefront. In identical letters released on July 7, the administration announced that both countries will face a 25% tariff on all goods imported into the United States, effective August 1.

In identical letters sent to the leaders of both countries, Trump declared that the US would impose the tariffs “on any and all Korean (Japanese) products sent into the US,” including goods transshipped through third countries in an attempt to bypass the...

ANALYSIS: Cage-Free Market Moves Higher Amid West Coast Strength 

Cage-free values rose 6cts this week, marking a notable contrast to the mostly steady conventional market. While demand for eggs is slightly above typical seasonal levels—buoyed in part by Fourth of July holiday preparations—the real driver of the cage-free market's momentum has been robust West Coast buying interest. 

Traditionally, egg demand softens during midsummer as consumers shift toward lighter, seasonally favorite breakfast meals. However, eggs remain a compelling outlier in today’s retail landscape. Unlike most proteins, which continue to rise in ... 

ANALYSIS: Chicken Hatchery Figures Continue Steady Expansion

In a market shaped by choppy global demand, disease-related caution, and mounting trade tension, hatchery performance remains one of the few reliable signals in an otherwise murky landscape. Despite these external pressures, the chicken industry continues to expand, driven by steady domestic demand and a growing cost advantage over higher-priced beef and turkey.

According to the latest USDA data, egg sets for the week ending June 28 reached 252 million, a 2% year-over-year increase. This marks the 74th consecutive week of YoY gains and aligns with...

ANALYSIS: Post-Suspension Outlook for Mexican Cattle Imports

The USDA’s announcement of a phased reopening of southern ports for livestock trade, effective as early as July 7, 2025, marks a significant moment for the Mexican export market for feeder cattle to the US, following a second suspension initiated in May 2025. This follows an initial suspension in November 2024, triggered by the detection of New World Screwworm (NWS) in southern Mexico, with trade resuming in February 2025 after a rigorous pre-clearance inspection protocol was established. The latest closure, driven by...

US Pushes Tariff Deadline to August, Trump Administration Expects Surge in Deals

President Donald Trump said on July 6 that the US is nearing several new trade deals and that letters will be sent to trading partners by July 9, warning of increased tariffs set to take effect on August 1.

The move effectively extends the administration’s trade deadline from July 9 to August 1, giving Trump more time to finalize agreements. So far, the U.S. has signed just two deals—one with the United Kingdom and another with Vietnam, as Expana reported last week...

Statement on Recent Lumpy Skin Disease Outbreaks in Europe

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) acknowledges the rapid official notifications of two outbreaks of Lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Italy and France, as well as the details provided through their follow up reports. This marks the first-ever occurrence of the disease in these countries, highlighting the urgent need for heightened surveillance and coordinated response. Both countries have reported that they are already implementing measures to contain the disease in line with international standards...

From 2016 to 2024, WOAH with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the European Union, supported the coordination of a standing group of expert for LSD...

367,812 Pounds of Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon Recalled Nationwide Over Listeria Concerns

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the Kraft Heinz Food Company is recalling approximately 367,812 pounds of fully cooked turkey bacon products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, identified through laboratory testing.

The affected products were produced between April 24, 2025, and June 11, 2025. They were distributed to retail locations nationwide and exported to the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong.

The recalled products include:

• 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages of Oscar Mayer Turkey...

ANALYSIS: Summer Squeeze, Limited Turkey Supplies and Consumer Choices

May’s cold storage report tells a story of limited turkey supplies and the search of the American people for value. All turkey categories were down year-over-year (YoY), anywhere from 3.1% for whole toms to 49.7% for MST. This May’s cold storage holdings were below the 5-year average for most categories as well, with the exception of breasts. Along with this theme, the month-over-month (MoM) change in inventories was below average for whole birds and legs.

All of this points to very limited production...

Expana Publication Schedule for The Fourth of July Holiday

Expana will be observing the Fourth of July holiday on Friday, July 4, which will impact the publication of some Expana Benchmark Prices.

The following weekly reports will be impacted:

• US Peanut assessment will be published on Thursday, July 3
• Asia-Pacific Beef Report will be published on Thursday, July 3
• EU Egg Products assessment will be published on Thursday, July 3
• UK Beef Market Complex assessment will be published on Thursday, July 3

The regular publishing schedule will resume on...

Trump Announces US Trade Deal With Vietnam, Including 20% Import Tariff

President Trump announced that the United States has agreed to a new trade deal with Vietnam on July 2.

Trump stated that Vietnam will pay the US a 20% tariff on all goods exported to the U.S. and a 40% tariff on transshipped goods. The higher 40% tariff targets products that are not originally made in Vietnam but are routed through the country to bypass higher tariffs. This move is significant, as many countries have used Vietnam as a transit point to avoid stricter trade penalties aimed at Chinese...

Joey Chestnut Returns to Gobbling Beef Dogs Post Plant-Based Debacle as Prices Rise

Some people have heroes like Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson, for participants in the global food industry and for competitive eating fans, the master is none other than Joey “Jaws” Chestnut. Yet last year, the king of hot dog eating did not compete in the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, NY on Independence Day due to a sponsorship conflict with Impossible Foods. 

Impossible Foods does have their hot dog made from soy protein isolate, wheat gluten, sunflower oil, coconut oil, among other ingredients...

US Secures Market Access for Poultry Exports to Namibia

The USDA has announced expanded access for US poultry exports to Namibia, a nation located on the southwestern coast of Africa. Effective July 1, Namibia will allow imports of fresh, frozen, and chilled poultry products from the United States, opening a market valued at approximately $15 million.

Additionally, the USDA successfully negotiated the removal of restrictive export and transit permit requirements for processed poultry products—reopening a previously closed trade channel.

This development underscores the Administration’s continued efforts to eliminate non-tariff trade...

USA: Fresh Del Monte Foods Files for Bankruptcy and Plans Asset Selloff  

US canned fruit and vegetable company Del Monte Foods has announced it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the District of New Jersey. The company plans to sell all or most of its assets through a court-supervised restructuring process. 

The filing casts uncertainty over supply chains for core processed produce items such as peaches, pears, pineapple, sweetcorn, green beans, and tomatoes. While Del Monte Foods says it will maintain operations, any disruption or sale could affect grower contracts, procurement strategies, or pricing in the US processed produce sector.