President Donald Trump on Feb. 6 signed an executive order that temporarily expands the amount of beef the U.S. can import from Argentina, further solidifying his stance that Argentine imports will help lower the grocery bill for American consumers. The order quadruples the in-quota tariff-rate quota for lean beef trimmings from Argentina to 80,000 metric tons for 2026. Under all available quotas, Argentina could be allowed to export up to 100,000 metric tons of beef to the U.S. in 2026. The U.S. will also be allowed to export up to 80,000 metric tons of beef to Argentina this year under the same parameters, without the lean trim limitation on U.S. product.
In a fact sheet regarding the proclamation, the White House said the decision to allow more Argentine beef into the U.S. was in large part driven by high prices and low supply, particularly for ground beef. “Ground beef prices reached an average of $6.69 per pound in December 2025, the highest since tracking began in the 1980s,” the fact sheet states. “The president is taking action to strengthen the nation’s supply of affordable beef for American consumers while these challenges persist.”
When Trump first put forth the plan to bring in more Argentine beef in October, he received significant pushback from cattle industry groups. Reactions from beef industry organizations to the actual signing of the executive order have been predictably negative, though generally measured.
“While we fundamentally disagree with the premise that increased imports can lower beef prices, NCBA is encouraged to see the Trump administration take necessary steps to address longstanding market access challenges for U.S. beef in Argentina,” Kent Bacus, executive director of international trade and market access at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), told Fox News.
“We are still deeply concerned about the origin and scale of these imports,” Justin Tupper, president of the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA), said in a statement. “A roughly 400 percent increase in access for Argentine product must be treated as a one‑time measure of exception – not a template for routine quota expansions. USCA strongly urges the administration not to normalize this level of increase for Argentina or any other supplier.”
