‘Meatpacking Cartels’ Are a Useful Villain for Beef Prices

President Trump has called on the Justice Department to investigate the so-called Big Four meatpacking conglomerates that have a hammerlock on beef processing, distribution and pricing in the US.

His allegations are serious: price fixing, collusion and market manipulation by what he calls “foreign-owned meatpacking cartels.” Together, the Big Four control 85% of the beef market, which the White House says amounts to monopoly power, allowing the companies to slash payments to farmers, reduce herd sizes, drive up consumer prices and jeopardize the nation’s food supply.