A new deal has been penned between the United States and Argentina to quadruple imports of lean beef despite push back from House lawmakers and the U.S. and Texas cattle industry.
The state of Texas is the nation’s largest producer of beef.
President Trump signed the proclamation last Thursday authorizing an additional 80,000 metric ton increase in in-quota beef trimmings imports in 2026, increasing the amount $800 million in Argentine beef exports to the US, in what the Trump administration thinks will lower consumer beef prices.
While the deal is a big win for Argentina, U.S. House lawmakers voiced opposition to increasing the imports due to the negative effect it would have on the U.S. cattle industry. When the prospect of increased Argentine beef arose in October 2025, House Republicans sent a letter to Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins and Trade Commissioner Jamieson Greer, expressing their concerns.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) also responded with a stern warning that the approach would harm states with high cattle inventory.
At the time, NCBA CEO Colin Woodall said “The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association 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. It is imperative that President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins let the cattle markets work.”
Woodall said the plan risked damaging the livelihoods of American cattlemen and women, while doing little to impact the price consumers are paying. Additionally, he noted concerns about trade imbalances, the risk of introducing foreign animal diseases from Argentina, and the importance of focusing on domestic solutions such as New World screwworm facilities, regulatory reforms, and disease prevention programs.
“This plan only creates chaos at a critical time of the year for American cattle producers, while doing nothing to lower grocery store prices,” said Woodall. “Additionally, Argentina has a deeply unbalanced trade relationship with the U.S. In the past five years Argentina has sold more than $801 million of beef into the U.S. market. By comparison, the U.S. has sold just over $7 million worth of American beef to Argentina. Argentina also has a history of foot-andmouth disease, which if brought to the United States, could decimate our domestic livestock production.”
NCBA said that cattle producers are concerned that rewarding Argentina with this expanded access to the U.S. market harms American cattlemen and women, while also interfering with the free market.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is among the Texas ranchers who are speaking out against the Trump administration’s proposal to increase imports of Argentine beef. Miller said he had a “disagreement” with Trump on how to lower beef prices. Miller said high beef prices are spurred by a low supply of cattle, which is the lowest it has been in 75 years.
In October 2025, Miller released a five-point plan with the intention of helping Texas ranchers and producers while simultaneously reducing prices. One priority that Miller stresses is to not rely on the quality of the Argentine beef, which Miller claims is subpar. Other points included reversing the Argentine agricultural trade deficit with the U.S; reopening and expanding grazing access on federal and private lands; creating a tax credit to rebuild the U.S. cattle herd; and allowing targeted live cattle from Mexico to stabilize supply. Texas cattlemen, led by the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), strongly oppose a deal to increase beef imports from Argentina, viewing it as a threat to herd health and domestic market stability. Concerns included disease risks and economic damage, with leaders arguing it is a 'misguided' effort to lower prices.
In a TSCRA statement issued in October 2025, the organization said, “While we appreciate the Trump administration’s ongoing support for ranchers and landowners, we strongly oppose the proposal to increase beef imports from Argentina. Importing beef from a country where foot and mouth disease is present poses a serious threat to the health of the U.S. cattle herd. It also undermines efforts to stabilize the market through natural herd rebuilding. Rather than turning to risky imports, we urge the administration to support long-term solutions that preserve herd health, incentivize an expansion in domestic beef production, and protect the livelihoods of American ranchers.”
The Independent Cattleman's Association of Texas also stated opposition to increasing foreign beef in the market, describing the plan as misguided and a threat to U.S. ranchers.