WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the United States may import more beef from Argentina to reduce record retail prices has triggered backlash from across the cattle industry.
Producer groups argue that new imports would do little to ease costs for consumers while creating added market instability at a time when domestic supplies are already stretched thin. Economists estimate Argentina accounts for roughly 2 percent of total U.S. beef imports — far too little, they say, to materially affect prices.
Industry organizations, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), and National Farmers Union (NFU), warned that policy signals alone can move futures markets and discourage herd rebuilding.
U.S. cattle numbers remain at their lowest in nearly 75 years after years of drought and high feed costs, and recent restrictions on live imports from Mexico have further tightened supply. Futures markets dropped sharply following the president’s comments before stabilizing early in the week.
Farm groups urged the administration to strengthen transparency, enforce fair competition among packers, and rebuild domestic capacity rather than rely on foreign beef. “Flooding markets with imported product weakens our foundation and undermines rural America,” the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association said, emphasizing that retail prices reflect the true, inflation-adjusted cost of raising cattle in the current environment.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says they have numerous concerns with the plan, warning that it would create chaos at a critical time for America’s cattle producers and do nothing to lower grocery store beef prices.
Foot and mouth disease is also a concern with beef imports from Argentina. According to NCBA President Colin Woodall, Argentina has a history of the disease, and warns it would decimate the U.S. livestock sector if brought here – a small herd already facing pressure from the outbreak of the New World Screwworm just south of the border.
Allendale Chief Economist Rich Nelson told RFD-TV that U.S. imports from Argentina likely will not solve anything with the U.S. herd, and rancher groups are opposing any potential imports of Argentinian beef.
“A lot of people suggested that it might be some type of import deal, perhaps from Argentina,” Nelson said. “Now, before that discussion point, though, the trade had been pricing in the belief that we had our recent break in cash cattle, and it’ll be done. And certainly, with last week’s higher trades and certainly with now futures re-guessing their questions, we have to point out that Argentina is #5 for a beef exporter, but they’re only 6% of the world market. So realistically, can we actually get all the supplies to stop next year’s decline in production? The answer is probably no here.”
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