Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper is raising concerns about President Donald Trump’s plan to temporarily allow more foreign beef into the United States, saying the move could undercut American cattle producers just as they are beginning to recover from several difficult years.

Trump announced last week that the United States would temporarily allow up to 300,000 metric tons of imported ground beef without the higher out-of-quota tariff for 90 days. The administration says the move is intended to increase supply and help bring down historically high beef prices for consumers.

Harper said he has heard from cattle producers across Georgia who are concerned about the potential impact.

“I have heard from cattle producers across Georgia who have serious concerns about the announcement of temporary tariff relief for additional foreign beef imports and the impact it could have on American producers,” Harper said. “I have shared those concerns.”

Harper argues that increasing America’s reliance on imported food is not a long-term solution to high grocery prices. He said the country can address affordability while continuing to support domestic farmers and ranchers.

The debate comes as the U.S. cattle herd has fallen to its lowest level in approximately 75 years. Years of drought, high feed and operating costs and herd liquidation have contributed to tight supplies, while strong consumer demand has helped push beef prices higher.

Harper said higher cattle prices now provide producers with an incentive to retain cows and heifers and begin rebuilding those herds. He warned that increasing lower-cost imports at this point in the cattle cycle could discourage producers from making the investments necessary to expand American beef production.

“The fundamental issue is supply,” Harper said. “Strong cattle prices are a market signal to retain cows and heifers, rebuild the herd, and produce more American beef.”

Harper said Georgia is taking several approaches to strengthen the state’s cattle and agricultural industries, including protecting farmland through the Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund, expanding market opportunities for small and medium-sized producers, increasing meat-processing and value-added capacity in Georgia, promoting competition in the food supply chain and connecting consumers with Georgia producers through Georgia Grown.

The Trump administration maintains that temporarily increasing imports can provide consumers with some relief from record beef prices. However, cattle organizations and producers around the country have joined Harper in questioning whether additional imports will substantially reduce grocery-store prices while potentially weakening incentives for ranchers to rebuild the domestic herd.

Harper said the long-term answer is increasing American agricultural production rather than becoming increasingly dependent on foreign food supplies.

“The long-term solution to food affordability is strengthening American agriculture — not becoming more dependent on foreign food,” Harper said.