OMAHA (DTN) -- President Donald Trump on Friday announced the United States will lower tariff barriers to allow 80,000 metric tons (mt) of beef trimmings to be imported from Argentina.

In a proclamation dubbed "Ensuring Affordable Beef for the American Consumer," Trump announced the U.S. would lower the tariff rate quota to increase imports of lean beef trimmings and all of the increased quota would come from Argentina.

The move follows through on a push Trump began last fall to boost beef imports as a way to potentially lower U.S. beef prices. The president drew fire from cattle producers in October after pushing for more imported beef to lower prices. Trump also angered some cattle producers after he declared on Truth Social, "the only reason they are doing so well, for the first time in decades, is because I put Tariffs on cattle coming into the United States."

USDA's Economic Research Service stated Argentina exported roughly 44,000 mt of beef to the U.S. in 2024. Through November 2025, USDA data shows Argentina shipped 51,574 mt of beef to the U.S.

Still, Argentina's beef and veal exports to the U.S. only equal about 2.2% of all U.S. beef imports for 2025. Through November, the U.S. imported more than 2.2 million metric tons (mmt) of beef, or roughly 4.9 billion pounds.

If Argentina hits 80,000 mt of beef trimmings, that would still only equate to about 3.6% of all U.S. beef imports, based on USDA statistics.

Australia, Canada, Mexico, Uruguay, Nicaragua, New Zealand and Brazil each export more beef and veal to the U.S. than Argentina.

In the proclamation, the White House cites widespread drought in 2022 that affected cattle supplies, as well as wildfires that affected grazing lands.

The proclamation also cited the New World Screwworm infestation in Mexico that has effectively blocked imports of live feeder cattle into the U.S. Before New World Screwworm hit last year, the U.S. would import roughly 1 million feeder cattle annually from Mexico.

The White House proclamation noted the total cattle inventory last July was 94.1 million head, which is about 1% lower than 2023, "continuing the downward trend of cattle inventory in the United States."

Given the demand for beef by U.S. consumers, the proclamation noted the prices of ground beef reached an average of $6.69 a pound in December, the highest since the Department of Labor began tracking beef prices in the 1980s.

The president's proclamation called for increasing the imports of lean beef trimmings beyond the current tariff rate quota (TRQ).

"In addition, I determine that it is appropriate to allocate all of the increased in-quota quantity of beef, as established by this proclamation, to Argentina," the president's proclamation stated.

Trump's proclamation comes just a day after Department of Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited the 2026 CattleCon meeting in Nashville touting the country's new dietary guidelines that encourage eating more protein, such as beef. Kennedy called on producers to raise more beef to meet the demand.

Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., issued a statement on Friday in which she did not directly criticize Trump's announcement, but stated she supports her state's cattle producers.

"Nebraska produces the world's best beef. Instead of imports that sideline American ranchers, we should be focused on solutions that cut red tape, lower production costs, and support growing our cattle herd," Fischer said.

As the White House is expanding Argentinian imports, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller on Friday called on "an aggressive America First beef policy to rebuild herds, strengthen food security and lower grocery prices for American families." Miller praised Trump for reopening global markets "closed under the Biden administration," but Miller also cautioned that efforts to expand imports of beef from Argentina should only be a "a short-term measure."

Miller called for a federal tax credit for producers to retain heifers and to rebuild the U.S. herd before increasing imports. He also called for the federal government to open up 19 million acres of grazing land.

"I applaud President Trump's leadership in reopening American markets around the world," Miller said. "But increasing Argentine beef imports is not America First -- or rancher first. I stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump in fighting to lower beef prices for families, but this plan should be a temporary fix -- not a long-term solution. The right way to lower prices is by rebuilding America's herds and processing capacity here at home."

Miller also wants to enforce mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL). It should be noted that there will be no way for consumers to know if their ground beef has more Argentinian beef because packers do not label the country of origin for imported beef products.

Also see "Kennedy to Cattlemen: Produce More Beef After Pyramid Reversal" here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @ChrisClaytonDTN

(c) Copyright 2026 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.