Trump Proclaims 80,000-Ton Beef Import Increase for Argentina
Proclamation raises the in-quota tariff-rate quota for lean beef trimmings by 80,000 metric tons, allocated entirely to Argentina.
Overview
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation increasing the in-quota tariff-rate quota for lean beef trimmings by 80,000 metric tons for calendar year 2026 and allocating the increase entirely to Argentina, according to the proclamation.
The White House said the action aims to lower ground-beef prices after they averaged $6.69 per pound in December 2025, the highest since the 1980s, and to address a reduced U.S. cattle herd, according to administration statements.
Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, called the move a "misguided effort" that will damage "the livelihoods of American cattlemen and women," and NCBA officials raised animal-disease concerns, according to the group's statements.
Argentina's Foreign Ministry said the agreement will expand preferential access by 100,000 tons and represent $800 million in exports, a figure that conflicts with the U.S. proclamation's 80,000 metric-ton increase, according to statements from both governments.
The proclamation says the 80,000 metric tons will be released in four equal tranches of 20,000 metric tons beginning Feb. 13, 2026 and running through Dec. 31, 2026, according to the proclamation.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a pragmatic consumer- and trade-focused policy move, emphasizing administration rationales and economic figures while treating ranchers' objections as reactive. Editorial choices — headlines like "Ensuring Affordable Beef," placement of Fed price data, and selective quotes (USTR praise; ranchers' "misguided effort") — produce that narrative.
Sources (3)
FAQ
The proclamation temporarily increases the in-quota tariff-rate quota for lean beef trimmings by 80,000 metric tons in 2026 to boost supply, lower ground beef prices amid high costs ($6.69 per pound in December 2025), and address the reduced U.S. cattle herd due to droughts and wildfires.
The imports will be released in four equal tranches of 20,000 metric tons each, starting February 13, 2026, through December 31, 2026, on a first-come, first-served basis.
The NCBA calls it a misguided effort that damages American cattle producers' livelihoods, raises animal disease concerns, and will do little to lower consumer prices.
The U.S. proclamation specifies an 80,000 metric ton increase allocated to Argentina, while Argentina's Foreign Ministry claims a 100,000 ton expansion representing $800 million in exports.
The deal eliminates or reduces tariffs on hundreds of products, expands U.S. beef access to Argentina by 80,000 metric tons, includes quotas for U.S. motor vehicles, cheese, wine, and almonds, and addresses critical minerals, sanctions compliance, labor, and environmental standards.
History
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