Trump Asks DOJ To Investigate Meat Packers

President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday he has asked the Justice Department to look into allegations that U.S. meat packers broke antitrust law because the prices paid to farmers and ranchers has declined even as meat prices rose, Reuters reports. “I’ve asked the Justice Department to look into it. ... I’ve asked them to take a very serious look into it, because it shouldn’t be happening that way and we want to protect our farmers,” the president said at a White House event attended by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. “Are they dealing with each other? What’s going on?” the president asked. Many beef, pork and poultry processing plants have either closed temporarily or significantly slowed their production in recent weeks which has reduced the markets farmers and ranchers have to sell their livestock. Both beef and pork processing capacities have been reduced by as much as 40%...MORE