A growing number of Republican senators jumped into the fray assailing President Donald Trump’s plan to import beef from Argentina, expressing similar concerns to cattlemen groups that the plan interferes with market dynamics now favoring beef producers.
Days after Trump first made his push for more beef imports, members of Congress in both houses and on both sides of the aisle came out harshly against it.
“Our cattle ranchers have been hurting for 10 years with low prices, and now we have good prices,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) in an interview with Notus after meeting with Trump on Oct. 21. “Let the free market work. That’s kind of the whole message, and he heard it from several members. And I think he’s listening.”
“This isn’t the way to do it,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) said in an interview with Semafor news. “It’s created a lot of uncertainty in that market. So I’m hoping that the White House has gotten the message.”
Since ranchers have long supported Trump, their concerns need to be heard, Thune said. “They think in the long term, he’s doing the right thing … In the near term, at least, it’s rattled the markets enough to make everybody nervous.”
Through the week several lawmakers chimed in to express dismay at the import plan. Eight Republican members of the House signed a letter asking for clarity and transparency on the policy. Additional senators went directly after the plan.
“Since hearing the president’s comments suggesting the U.S. would buy beef from Argentina, I’ve been in touch with his administration and my colleagues to seek clarity and express my deep concerns,” said Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), herself a rancher, in an Oct. 21 post on X. “Bottom line: If the goal is addressing beef prices at the grocery store, this isn’t the way. Right now, government intervention in the beef market will hurt our cattle ranchers … Nebraska’s ranchers cannot afford to have the rug pulled out from under them when they’re just getting ahead or simply breaking even.”
Other Republican senators, many from cattle-raising states, joined the chorus against the imports, including key allies of Trump such as Joni Ernst of Iowa, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Jim Risch of Idaho and Roger Marshall of Kansas.
Trump’s plan hit a nerve after he announced it Oct. 16 aboard Air Force One. NCBA responded on Oct. 20, in a statement criticizing the plan as “doing nothing to lower grocery store prices” and calling on Trump to “let the market work rather than intervening in ways that do nothing but harm rural America.”
Trump responded sharply with a post on Truth Social, claiming credit for the industry’s strong beef prices due to his 50% tariffs on Brazil, and saying cattlemen needed to understand his tariffs and "they also have to get their prices down, because the consumer is a very big factor in my thinking, also!"
He also expanded on his push during additional comments from the Oval Office, saying consumers need relief from beef prices and imports will provide it.
“The beef, the ranchers, let's say, who have done a great job, have lost their shirts for many, many years,” Trump said to the gathered White House press on Oct. 22. “They've really been decimated, and I helped them a lot. I put tariffs on things coming into the country, including beef, and that gave them a chance to finally have a decent industry.
“We are going to be talking to them. They're great people, but they've been hurt for 25, 30 years. They've been losing because other countries have taken advantage of them, and by putting tariffs on they've been able to make a few dollars. They've been able to have an industry. But I also want to keep the beef prices low, so prices are way down.”
That led to another released statement from NCBA CEO Colin Woodall, the second in three days, addressing the import policy and its impact on markets.
“The [NCBA] 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 Woodall. “It is imperative that President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins let the cattle markets work.”
The statement further asserted the existing trade balance between the two countries that already favors Argentina, with the U.S. purchasing $800 million worth of beef in the past five years and shipping only $7 million worth to Argentina. The concerns over foot-and-mouth disease in Argentina also remain a major concern.
“If President Trump is truly an ally of America’s cattle producers, we call on him to abandon this effort to manipulate markets and focus instead on the promised New World screwworm facilities in Texas; making additional investments that protect the domestic cattle herd from foreign animal diseases such as FMD; and addressing regulatory burdens, such as delisting of the gray wolf and addressing the scourge of black vultures.”
On Wednesday evening, the administration announced its plans to protect and rebuild the cattle industry through a number of initiatives in grazing, labeling, business loans and promotions.
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) responded favorably to the plan, but in a statement added its disagreements over Argentina imports.
“USCA is deeply concerned about reports that the administration may move forward with a purchase of 80,000 metric tons of beef from Argentina – quadruple the existing import quota.
“Following President Trump’s social media post today regarding ranchers, the market reacted. Both live and feeder cattle prices dropped dramatically, directly harming American producers. Despite the positive aspects of USDA’s plan, increasing beef imports poses an immediate and significant threat to U.S. ranchers."
"We oppose this kind of government intervention in the marketplace and will continue to defend ranchers from this action,” said Justin Tupper, president of USCA. “A deal of this magnitude with Argentina would undercut the very foundation of our cattle industry,” Tupper added. “Flooding the market with imports would undermine U.S. cattle producers, drive down prices for family ranchers and weaken the fabric of rural America. Our policies should strengthen American agriculture – not put it at greater risk.”
Meanwhile two Democratic senators from Nevada, Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, have also pledged to put a hold on any plan by Trump to send $40 billion to Argentina and that lifts caps on Argentina beef imports.
“While families in Nevada are struggling to afford everything from a cup of coffee to housing, President Trump is sending taxpayer dollars to bail out his friends in Argentina,” Cortez Masto said in a statement. “It’s time to stop this nonsense plan to send 40 billion dollars to Javier Milei’s regime and focus on commonsense, bipartisan solutions to actually help struggling Americans.”
