Overview
- President Trump said the U.S. could buy Argentine beef, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said he suggested lifting the low‑tariff quota from 20,000 metric tons to as much as 100,000, with Reuters reporting a move to 80,000.
- Beef futures fell sharply after Trump’s remarks, adding volatility for producers who say expanded imports could undercut cattle prices.
- Ranchers and lawmakers across party lines objected, with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association warning about foot‑and‑mouth disease risks and figures like Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Colorado’s bipartisan House delegation urging the White House to reconsider.
- USDA outlined steps to bolster domestic supply by opening more grazing on federal lands, temporarily reducing inspection fees for small processors, and tightening “Made in the USA” labeling, while noting herd rebuilding will take time.
- Argentina accounts for roughly 2% of U.S. beef imports this year—about 30,000 metric tons—so industry groups doubt a larger quota would meaningfully lower retail beef prices.