Many U.S. Cattle Ranchers Oppose New Beef Imports from Argentina

President Donald Trump has much work to do to sooth initial anger from U.S. cattle ranchers and advocates after his administration announced a plan to import more beef from Argentina to potentially lower prices for U.S. consumers.

The import increase would not be slight. Trump plans to quadruple the amount of beef from Argentina, another in a series of moves that he has made to assist the country of his political ally, Argentina’s President Javier Milei.

Milei’s political party faces frustration from voters about the country’s lagging economy as they head to the polls this weekend. Trump is already working on a $40 billion economic aid package for Argentina, which he hinted could be dependent on whether Milei’s party fares well in the election.

U.S. Farmers Still Wait on Promised Aid

Regardless, the potential economic assistance already frustrated American farmers on two fronts: a potential $10 billion+ aid package for U.S. farmers has stalled during the partial federal government shutdown, and Argentina recently reduced export tariffs, which led to China buying beans from that country instead of the United States.

That meant that China has no current orders for U.S. soybeans as it has retreated due to Trump’s ongoing trade dispute.  

"A deal of this magnitude with Argentina would undercut the very foundation of our cattle industry," Justin Tupper, a South Dakota cattle producer and president of the United States Cattlemen's Association, told Reuters about the Trump administration announcement to allow more beef from Argentina.

Ranchers Oppose Increased Beef Imports

Ranchers have said that they have finally been doing better economically as beef prices rose in the past few years. The smallest herd in 75 years shrunk supply as drought and wildfires decimated grazing land. This happened as ranchers were already dealing with rising input costs.

But Trump appears focused on beef prices for consumers, which have increased more than 50% over the past few years and could decline if cheaper beef from Argentina added to the U.S. supply.

President Trump Criticizes U.S. Cattle Ranchers

He criticized ranchers who expressed their disapproval about what his actions could do to their livelihoods. Trump said that he is responsible for cattle ranchers doing better, and he said that they need to bring down their prices. 

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican farmer (who doesn’t raise cattle) from Iowa, did not hold back in what he thinks the president should do the next time that he wants to talk about increasing beef imports from Argentina.

Grassley said on Thursday, “the president would be better off if he’d keep his mouth shut on that issue and not tweet about it." He added, “You aren’t going to win it. He should concentrate on what he’s doing to help the beef producers.”

Grassley supports Trump’s other actions to expand grazing on federal land, reduce regulations, and increase meat processing plant production.

RELATED: This Midwest farmer put plans for a $500 million beef processing plant on hold because of supply. He told American Farmland Owner that he had been hopeful that Trump’s tariffs on foreign products could help the U.S. market.