Trump wants to 'terminate' all trade deals that bring foreign cattle to US

America has 'enough' heads of cattle, president contends

Donald Trump on Tuesday called on federal officials to cancel all trade deal with other countries that include cattle imports.

"We have a lot of cattle in this country," he said of the United States. "I think you should look at the possibility of terminating those deals."

Mr Trump appeared to be directing his order to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue during an event on directing funds allocated by Congress in coronavirus relief legislation to American farmers and the agriculture sector, which have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The United States has imported 530,000 head of cattle over the first five months of the year. That's down 6.5 per cent from 2019, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Always thinking about politics and his re-election bid, Mr Trump put Democrats in the commonwealth of Virginia on notice.

"We're going after Virginia," he said with a smile, citing the state's "crazy governor."

He accused Ralph Northam, a Democrat, of wanting "to take away your Second Amendment (gun) rights."

Meantime, the president announced he would be going to Capitol Hill following the event to meet with Senate Republicans.