Overview
- USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said there could be news in one or two days and stressed any additional Argentine beef would be a small share of U.S. consumption.
- People familiar with the talks say negotiators are weighing a jump in Argentina’s duty‑free quota from 20,000 to 60,000–70,000 tonnes with a 10% tariff on extra volumes, though no deal has been announced.
- Rollins referenced foot‑and‑mouth disease concerns in Argentina, while the World Organisation for Animal Health has certified the country as disease‑free and reports no outbreaks in 24 years.
- Rollins cited U.S. demand of roughly 12 million tonnes versus 10 million produced domestically and said nearly 17% of producers have exited over the past decade.
- Rancher groups and Republican Sen. Deb Fischer criticized the idea as harmful to U.S. producers and ineffective on retail prices, as the administration previews a broader plan to strengthen the beef supply chain.