Billionaire Joesley Batista lobbied Trump to ease Brazil beef tariffs

Brazilian billionaire Joesley Batista, co-owner of global meatpacking giant JBS, met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House and pushed for lower tariffs on Brazilian beef shortly before the administration moved to ease import restrictions, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Batista met Trump in the Oval Office on August 20, where he argued that bringing more Brazilian beef into the United States could help bring down sharply rising meat prices, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the meeting. Reuters later reported the same account but said it could not independently verify the details of the meeting.

At the time, Brazilian beef entering the U.S. outside existing tariff-rate quotas faced an import duty of roughly 26%. Batista reportedly pressed Trump to reduce the burden, arguing that additional supplies from Brazil could help address the American beef shortage and lower prices for consumers.

The timing of Trump's subsequent action has drawn attention to the meeting. On August 21, one day after meeting Batista, Trump announced that the U.S. would temporarily allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef imports over 90 days without the additional out-of-quota tariff. The administration said the measure was intended to increase supply and bring down prices, with imported beef expected to be sold at 25% below current market prices.

The policy does not amount to a permanent removal of all tariffs on Brazilian beef. Instead, it expands the amount of beef that can enter the U.S. without the higher out-of-quota duty for a limited period. The additional imports are equivalent to roughly 2% of annual U.S. beef consumption, according to the Journal.

For JBS, the development could have significant commercial implications. The company is the world's largest meatpacker and has built a substantial presence in the U.S. market, where it operates major beef-processing businesses. Greater access for Brazilian beef could give JBS more room to supply the American market and potentially increase its market share.

The move comes as U.S. beef prices have climbed amid a prolonged shortage of cattle. The country's cattle herd has fallen to historically low levels, limiting domestic beef supplies and putting pressure on consumers. Trump's administration has framed increased imports as a way to provide short-term relief while also pursuing measures aimed at expanding competition in the domestic meat industry.

But the decision has triggered resistance from American cattle producers and some Republican lawmakers. Ranchers argue that increasing imports could weaken domestic cattle prices at a time when producers are already trying to rebuild the U.S. herd. Industry groups have also questioned whether a temporary increase in imports can solve the structural supply problems behind high beef prices.

The controversy also puts JBS under renewed scrutiny in Washington. The company and other major U.S. meat processors are facing government scrutiny over competition in the industry, while JBS has expanded its American footprint and completed its New York Stock Exchange listing.

Batista's access to Trump is particularly notable given the broader relationship between JBS and the U.S. administration. JBS subsidiary Pilgrim's Pride donated $5 million to Trump's inaugural committee in 2025, one of the largest corporate contributions to the inauguration. Batista and his brother Wesley control J&F Investimentos, which is the controlling shareholder of JBS.

Still, the reported meeting does not establish that Batista directly caused Trump's decision. The White House has presented the tariff move as part of its effort to address high beef prices and tight domestic supplies, while Reuters noted that it was unable to independently verify the Journal's account of Batista's conversation with Trump.

For Batista, however, the episode highlights the growing influence of JBS's global operations as trade policy, food prices and U.S. political interests increasingly intersect. A temporary change in America's beef import rules could now give the Brazilian billionaire's meat empire a fresh opportunity in one of its most important markets.