After defeating incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles in the August primaries, Tennessee District 5 GOP candidate Charlie Hatcher has questions about President Donald Trump’s measure to lower beef prices.
Trump announced a 90-day pause on beef tariffs Friday, drawing criticism from Republican senators and cattle farmers alike.
A former dairy farmer and Tennessee agriculture commissioner, Hatcher said he wants more transparency. He’s asking the president to reveal where the beef will be imported from, whether it will be properly inspected and how the plan will impact American cattle farmers whose herds have been diminished by recent droughts and rising fuel costs.
When asked about where America’s beef would be coming from, Trump told reporters, “I don’t want to say which countries, but there are a few countries.”
Hatcher has aligned himself with Trump on the campaign trail, although the president endorsed his opponent in the GOP primary.
“I support President Trump’s goal of lowering grocery prices for American families, but the long-term answer is producing more food here at home,” Hatcher said. “We can lower costs for consumers without compromising food safety or undermining the American farmers and ranchers who feed this country.”
Hatcher faces Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder in November’s general election.
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