Over a dozen Republican House members, in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, expressed concern over the Trump administration’s plan to boost imports of Argentine beef.
“We encourage the Administration to ensure that any adjustments to Argentina’s tariff-rate quota or inspection regime be contingent on verified equivalency and reciprocal market access for American beef,” said the letter, signed by House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and 13 others.
Last week, the administration confirmed plans to quadruple the tariff rate quota for beef from Argentina, days after President Trump cited rising beef prices in backing the plan.
The average per pound price of ground beef was roughly $6.32 in September, $0.77 higher than in January and $0.65 higher than in September 2024, according to Department of Agriculture (USDA) data compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), meanwhile, unveiled a plan to strengthen the domestic beef industry, including by boosting grazing access, disaster support, market options and domestic and international demand.
The proposal regarding Argentine beef, though, has sparked backlash from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, particularly in states with high cattle inventory.
The letter’s signatories include lawmakers from Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, all of which rely heavily on the beef industry.
The letter notes that while the lawmakers “share the Administration’s goal of lowering costs for consumers,” they are concerned that increasing beef imports from Argentina will hurt U.S. cattle producers, weaken the country’s position in trade negotiations and “reintroduce avoidable animal-health risks.”
Last week, Rollins told CNBC that the administration is monitoring a “foot-and-mouth disease issue” impacting cattle in Argentina. According to the World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Argentina has not such an outbreak since 2006.
The lawmakers also noted a beef trade imbalance between the U.S. and Argentina. In an Oct. 20 release criticizing the president’s initial proposal, the NCBA said that over the last five years, Argentina has sold $801 million worth of beef to American businesses, while importing only $7 million from the U.S.
“While we recognize the value of diversified global supply chains, it is critical that trade decisions reflect science-based animal-health standards and the principle of fair and reciprocal treatment,” the letter added.
The Hill has reached out to the White House, USDA and Greer’s office for comment on the letter.
