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Trump boosts beef imports amid supply constraints

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Trump boosts beef imports amid supply constraints

President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order to expand beef imports from Argentina as consumers face higher prices amid supply constraints impacting the U.S. cattle industry.

Trump’s order implements a trade framework he reached with Argentina in November that aims to increase beef imports to help mitigate the surge in beef prices that has occurred in recent years.

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In 2018-19, ground beef prices were under $4 per pound but began rising during the pandemic and have been above $5 a pound since June 2023 while continuing to increase, reaching about $6.69 a pound in December, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Sirloin steaks were around $8.50 a pound in 2019, but have been over $11 a pound since the summer of 2023 and hit $14.02 a pound in December.

Over the last year, ground beef prices are up 15.5% through December while the cost of a steak has risen 17.8%, according to the BLS’ consumer price index (CPI). A fresh read of the CPI inflation is due at the end of this week when January’s data is set to be released – though high beef prices are expected to persist due to domestic supply challenges.

RANCHERS DISPUTE PRICE CLAIMS AFTER TRUMP EXPANDS ARGENTINE BEEF IMPORTS IN EXECUTIVE ORDER

A butcher stocks beef products

The price of steaks and ground beef has risen sharply over the last year. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Cattle ranchers have reduced their herds due to drought and wildfire affecting key ranching regions in recent years, which left the nationwide cattle inventory at its lowest level in 70 years. Although some ranchers have started to slowly rebuild their herds, it takes at least two years to raise full-grown cattle.

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Overhead costs for cattle ranchers have also climbed, with feed, labor, fuel and equipment expenses trending higher. 

Additionally, cattle imports from Mexico have been restricted due to the New World Screwworm, a parasitic infestation that can afflict livestock.

BEEF PRICES SOAR AS AMERICAN FAMILIES PAY STEEP PRICES FOR STEAKS AND BURGERS NATIONWIDE

Raw beef sits on grocery cooler shelf

American consumers have faced a significant rise in beef prices over the past few years. (Ronald Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Under the Trump administration’s announcement, the tariff-rate quota for imports of lean beef trimmings from Argentina will increase by 80,000 metric tons for calendar year 2026. 

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The additional imports will be allocated entirely to Argentina and released in four quarterly tranches beginning on Feb. 13.

The White House said in a fact sheet that the action is intended to boost supply and make ground beef more affordable for American consumers, citing an 8.6% decline in domestic beef cattle inventory since 2020.

BEEF PRICES HIT RECORD HIGHS AS NATIONWIDE CATTLE INVENTORY DROPS TO LOWEST LEVEL IN 70 YEARS

Cows in Argentina

The U.S. beef cattle inventory is at the lowest level in 70 years. (Agustin Marcarian/Reuters)

The announcement drew pushback from the nation’s largest cattle industry group, which questioned whether increased imports would deliver the price relief the administration is promising.

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“While we fundamentally disagree with the premise that increased imports can lower beef prices, NCBA is encouraged to see the Trump administration take necessary steps to address longstanding market-access challenges for U.S. beef in Argentina,” said Kent Bacus, executive director of international trade and market access at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

Bacus warned that Argentina’s history with foreign animal diseases raises concerns about expanding imports without stronger safeguards.

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“Given Argentina’s issues with foreign animal diseases, NCBA remains concerned that expanding imports from Argentina without increased inspection protocols and up-to-date audits could place American consumers and our cattle herd at unnecessary risk,” Bacus said.

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FOX Business’ Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.

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Buy Or Sell Kevin Warsh?

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Buy Or Sell Kevin Warsh?

Buy Or Sell Kevin Warsh?

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WaFd: 7.3% Yielding Preferred Share Good For Income Investors (NASDAQ:WAFD)

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WaFd: 7.3% Yielding Preferred Share Good For Income Investors (NASDAQ:WAFD)

This article was written by

Other writing on Substack: https://yieldstrategies.substack.com/I am currently focused on income investing through either common shares, preferred shares, or bonds. I will occasionally break away and write about the economy at large or a special situation involving a company I’ve been researching in. I target two articles per week for publication on Monday and Tuesday.About My Background: Bachelors in history/political science, Masters in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance and Economics. I enjoy numbers. I have been investing since 2000. Professionally, I am the CEO of an independent living retirement community in Illinois.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of WAFDP either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Starbucks: The Growth Story Is Not Compelling Enough At The Current Valuation (Rating Downgrade)

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Starbucks: The Growth Story Is Not Compelling Enough At The Current Valuation (Rating Downgrade)

Starbucks: The Growth Story Is Not Compelling Enough At The Current Valuation (Rating Downgrade)

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Businesses face extinction unless they protect nature, major report warns

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Businesses face extinction unless they protect nature, major report warns

Experts call for urgent action by businesses to restore the natural systems that keep them running.

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Instagram and YouTube owners built 'addiction machines', lawyers say

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Instagram and YouTube owners built 'addiction machines', lawyers say

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War Department to partner with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into GenAI.mil platform

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War Department to partner with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into GenAI.mil platform

EXCLUSIVE – The War Department will partner with OpenAI to integrate the chatbot into GenAI.mil, a tool for military service members. 

The move will make OpenAI’s advanced language models “readily available to all 3 million War Department personnel,” the agency said. 

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“ChatGPT will be made available to enhance mission execution and readiness, delivering reliable capabilities to the joint force,” a War Department news release states. 

The agency has committed to becoming an AI-first enterprise, reflected by GenAI.mil, it said. 

GOOGLE CEO CALLS FOR NATIONAL AI REGULATION TO COMPETE WITH CHINA MORE EFFECTIVELY 

OpenAI GPT-5 logo

GenAI.mil’s rapid growth continues with OpenAI ChatGPT integration. (Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

“The platform’s proven reliability, evidenced by its 100% uptime since launch and its robust infrastructure, has established it as the trusted AI platform across the Department,” the agency said. 

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Its adoption is already “accelerating operational tempo and sharpening the decision superiority of its users,” it said. 

War Department personnel are being trained to integrate AI capabilities into their daily workflow, officials said. 

In December, the Pentagon announced the launch of GenAI.mil, which is powered by Google Gemini and has surpassed one million unique users in the two months since its deployment. 

“The future of American warfare is here, and it’s spelled AI,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a video obtained by FOX Business at the time. “As technologies advance, so do our adversaries. But here at the War Department, we are not sitting idly by.”

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The platform puts “the world’s most powerful frontier AI models, starting with Google Gemini, directly into the hands of every American warrior,” he added. 

CHINESE HACKERS WEAPONIZE ANTHROPIC’S AI IN FIRST AUTONOMOUS CYBERATTACK TARGETING GLOBAL ORGANIZATIONS 

Split image of Pentagon, Hegseth

The Pentagon launched a platform powered by Google Gemini called GenAI.mil, giving 3 million military personnel access to advanced AI tools. (Getty Images)

Google CEO Sundar Pichai noted that the company has partnered with government agencies for decades, but emphasized the significance of the new project.

“Through this deployment of Google Cloud’s ‘Gemini for Government’ offering, more than 3 million civilian and military personnel will be able to access the same advanced AI that businesses use every day to drive administrative efficiency and greater business productivity,” said Pichai. 

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In January, the War Department announced the launch of its Artificial Intelligence Acceleration Strategy, an initiative intended to eliminate legacy bureaucratic blockers, and integrate the leading edge of frontier AI capabilities across every mission area. 

The wartime approach is based on the emphasis of three tenets: warfighting, intelligence and enterprise operations.

“Speed defines victory in the AI era, and the War Department will match the velocity of America’s AI industry,” Emil Michael, undersecretary of war for research and engineering, said previously. “We’re pulling in the best talent, the most cutting‑edge technology, and embedding the top frontier AI models into the workforce — all at a rapid wartime pace.” 

The Pentagon in the evening.

The Pentagon is launching GenAI.mil – a military-focused AI platform powered by Google Gemini. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

GOOGLE CEO CALLS FOR NATIONAL AI REGULATION TO COMPETE WITH CHINA MORE EFFECTIVELY 

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The Trump administration has made AI a priority as adversaries such as China continue to develop and experiment with the technology. In December, President Donald Trump announced that he would be reversing a Biden-era restriction on high-end chip exports, permitting Nvidia to export its artificial-intelligence chips to China and other countries.

The H200 chips are high-performance processors made by Nvidia that help run artificial intelligence programs, like chatbots, machine learning and data-center tasks. 

FOX Business’ Andrea Margolis and Lorraine Taylor contributed to this report. 

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Form 144 GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC For: 9 February

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Form 144 GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC For: 9 February

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Form 144 COREWEAVE For: 9 February

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Form 144 COREWEAVE For: 9 February

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Cemex Was Helped By FX, But Is Still Positioned For A Demand Upturn

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Cemex Was Helped By FX, But Is Still Positioned For A Demand Upturn

Cemex Was Helped By FX, But Is Still Positioned For A Demand Upturn

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UK Tech Firm Takes Ambitious Steps to Capitalise on Opportunities in the Middle East

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A growing number of British companies are turning to so-called “bossware” to keep tabs on their employees, with a third of organisations now using technology to monitor staff emails, browsing and even screen activity, according to new research.

The School of Coding & AI (SoC) has taken a massive step in its bid to announce itself on the global stage.

The United Kingdom-based artificial intelligence (AI) provider and coding education firm is moving ahead with plans to build a £3 million facility in Dubai. This move is a reflection of the Middle East’s digital ambitions and the international demand for advanced technical skills.

SoC is a respected industry-focused education provider in Britain and will open its first Middle East base in Dubai Media City. Its programmes will prepare people for careers in AI, computer science, and other digital innovation fields.

SoC Forges Ahead with Bold Middle East Plans

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in the Midlands, SoC has grown in stature in the UK, recently opening a Birmingham campus in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton.

That facility has a great blend of traditional academic subjects, such as computer science and business management, with AI-powered learning tools, embedding new technologies in its curriculum.

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Expanding into Dubai is a major step for the institution, strategically and geographically. They will upskill 2,000 people through flexible training, giving them a pathway into technical careers and specialised digital industries.

The UK’s Department for Business and Trade is supporting the initiative, providing market insight, trade support and strategic guidance to help the organisation make headway into the UAE’s competitive technology sector.

Chief executive and founder Manny Athwal believes this is an exciting next step in the journey to become a global player in AI and computer science education.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the most aggressive investors in advanced digital infrastructure, having spent over $148 billion on AI development domestically and internationally since 2024.

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The country is looking to wean itself off its reliance on hydrocarbons after decades and focus more on digital industries, generating a massive demand for skilled professionals.

Dubai’s reputation as a hub for tech and business has also made it attractive to international training providers. Media City, where the new campus is based, is already home to an ecosystem of media companies, technology firms, start-ups and creative agencies.

The newly regulated UAE iGaming industry will benefit. Operators of the best Arab casinos online require skilled technology staff behind the scenes.

Many of the platforms featured on the https://haz-tayeb.com/en/ comparison platform use AI and other advanced tech for compliance, cybersecurity, customer support and responsible gaming.

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AI can be deployed to monitor player behaviour and flag suspicious activities in real time.

The industry needs more data scientists, machine learning engineers, blockchain developers and cybersecurity specialists. Training institutes that can produce professionals with these skill sets will play a key role in the sector’s sustainable expansion.

Tech Opportunities Abound in the Middle East

SoC’s leadership believes the Gulf is a unique environment for developing world-class tech talents. They recently participated in a UK government-led trade mission to the UAE, connecting British education and tech providers with senior stakeholders in Dubai’s economic development and innovation ecosystem.

Athwal also paid a visit to Saudi Arabia, taking part in a parallel education investment initiative that shows the school views the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as a key long-term growth market.

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This calculated foray into Dubai has been in the pipeline for some time. SoC has been expanding gradually. Just last year, it unveiled a £2.5m advanced technology laboratory at its Birmingham campus.

This has facilities for game design, podcast production, in-house research and experimental AI applications, including interactive virtual avatars.

The company also refurbished its Wolverhampton headquarters as it gained national recognition, with Athwal hailed as one of the UK’s most ambitious business leaders.

UK officials view the expansion as an exercise that strengthens the educational and technological ties between Britain and the UAE.

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The UK government has turned to international education exports as part of its overarching industrial strategy, pinpointing AI and digital skills as areas ripe for global partnership.

SoC’s Dubai campus reiterates the UK as a destination for top-notch technical education while supporting economic ties. The organisation’s programmes prepare participants with project-focused learning, exposing them to real-world challenges.

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