Trump bringing more beef from Argentina; U.S. cattlemen not excited

The Trump administration is quadrupling the quota of beef that can be imported from Argentina.

The move aims to reduce consumer prices, but it risks further angering farmers and ranchers who say it undermines America First.

The U.S. currently lets 20,000 tons of Argentine beef enter the country annually under a reduced tariff rate, though Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that could rise to “20,000 per quarter.”

She tried to put the amounts in perspective, saying the U.S. typically produces 10 million of the 12 million tons of beef it consumes — and imports the rest.

“This is not a massive influx,” Ms. Rollins said Thursday on Fox Business, referring to the purchases from Argentina.

The cost of ground beef, driven upward by depleted herds, weather problems and high consumer demand, has risen to a record high of nearly $7 per pound.

Mr. Trump says he’s working to support U.S. ranchers while lowering prices for grocery consumers.

The balancing act has been difficult. A key cattlemen’s lobby unloaded on the administration for increasing imports from Argentina, whose president is a key Trump ally and facing tough elections.

“The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and its members cannot stand behind the president while he undercuts the future of family farmers and ranchers by importing Argentinian beef in an attempt to influence prices,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “It is imperative that President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins let the cattle markets work.”

The association said Argentina sells far more beef to the U.S. than it buys from American producers, creating a trade imbalance, and warned that Argentina has a long history of foot-and-mouth disease.

It also said the Trump administration should focus on fighting the screwworm and other problems to support American ranchers.

The Agriculture Department says it’s doing exactly that. It announced a sprawling plan on Wednesday to support ranchers.

Ms. Rollins said the plan includes releasing 5 million acres for ranchers to lease from the government, implementing programs that help young ranchers get loans, and working with the “Make America Healthy Again” movement to promote locally grown beef.

The plan will open up new, smaller processing plants and overhaul labeling to promote American-made beef, she said.

Separately, Mr. Trump said his tariff framework will protect U.S. cattlemen from unfair foreign competition.

“It would be nice if [ranchers] would understand that, but they also have to get their prices down, because the consumer is a very big factor in my thinking, also!” the president posted on Truth Social.

The White House says Mr. Trump is working to fulfill his twin goals of helping farmers, a key bloc of his political support, while bringing down the price inflation that dominated the Biden era.

“President Trump pledged to protect America’s ranchers and deliver economic relief for everyday Americans. The administration is accomplishing both by expanding beef imports from Argentina to lower consumer prices in the short term while rolling out a new USDA initiative that will support ranchers and expand cattle herd sizes to keep prices lower in the long term,” said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly.

Beyond beef, farmers have complained this year about low crop prices, high costs on fertilizer and equipment and China’s refusal to buy soybeans. They say the confluence of factors is causing an economic crisis.

Sen. Josh Hawley, Missouri Republican, said Thursday he planned to offer legislation that would use customs revenue to aid farmers.

“President Trump had a great idea: take some of the incredible tariff revenue and use it to help our farmers,” Mr. Hawley said on X. “Farmers are the backbone of this great country; Republicans need to have their backs every step of the way.”