(JAMESTOWN, N.D.) – North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue issued the following statement today in response to President Trump’s Feb. 6 proclamation, titled “Ensuring Affordable Beef for the American Consumer,” which increases imports of Argentine beef quotas from 20,000 tons to roughly 100,000 tons in 2026.
“Increasing Argentine beef imports is the wrong approach to growing our beef supply. While the administration claims this move will lower grocery bills, history and economists tell us otherwise: it will push down the prices paid to American ranchers, not the grocery store prices paid by consumers. That is why this plan has garnered nearly unanimous opposition from U.S. cattle producers.
“The administration should focus on supporting U.S. ranchers, not our foreign competitors. We urge the administration to address consolidation in the meatpacking sector, advance country-of-origin labeling and give young ranchers the tools they need to expand their operations.”
United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) responded to the Administration’s announcement of a new beef trade agreement with Argentina that will govern trade flows in calendar year 2026.
USCA President Justin Tupper said the association has been engaged with the Administration since the idea of expanded imports from Argentina was first floated.
“The announcement of today’s agreement follows the Administration’s original notice in October 2025 that it would pursue increased beef imports from Argentina,” said Tupper. “Since that time, USCA has remained in close communication with the White House, USDA, and USTR to understand how any new trade arrangement could impact U.S. cattle producers, markets, and the broader beef supply chain.”
According to details shared with industry stakeholders, the agreement establishes a reciprocal 80,000 metric ton quota for each country in 2026, allocated on a quarterly basis. Argentina will be allowed to export up to 80,000 metric tons of beef to the United States in 2026 allocated as 20,000 metric tons per quarter. This addition will not allow for rollover of unused quarterly volumes and is limited to lean beef trimmings only.
The United States will be able to export up to 80,000 metric tons of beef to Argentina in 2026 under the same quarterly volume parameters, without a lean‑trim limitation on U.S. product. The new 80,000 metric ton quota is in addition to Argentina’s existing 20,000 metric ton tariff‑rate quota, which is not restricted to lean trimmings. As a result, Argentina could export up to 100,000 metric tons of beef to the United States in 2026 under all available quotas.
President Tupper emphasized that USCA’s position has stood firm: “From the very beginning, USCA has been clear: a safe, secure, and resilient beef supply starts with a strong domestic industry. We must continue to focus on how we can rebuild our U.S. cattle herd,” he said. “Any trade agreement must be structured in a way that does not undermine U.S. cattle producers’ ability to compete and does not compromise the integrity of our supply.
“We continue to stress the need for tightened rules of origin and product limitations built into this agreement,” said President Tupper. “We are still deeply concerned about the origin and scale of these imports,” President Tupper continued. “Argentina is currently facing very tight cattle supplies, same as the U.S. A roughly 400 percent increase in access for Argentine product must be treated as a one‑time, measure of exception – not a template for routine quota expansions. USCA strongly urges the Administration not to normalize this level of increase for Argentina or any other supplier, particularly when both exporting and importing countries are navigating constrained cattle inventories and heightened volatility. U.S. cattle producers – and U.S. consumers – deserve to know where their beef comes from. Trade policy and labeling policy must move together, not in opposite directions.”
USCA acknowledges the reciprocal design of the deal, while underscoring the need to protect U.S. producers. “While USCA remains opposed to the increase of imports from Argentina, we appreciate the reciprocal nature of this agreement – U.S. beef producers will have equal access to the Argentine market, and the imports into the U.S. are limited to lean trimmings, not all beef products,” President Tupper said. “However, while this is a reciprocal agreement, we must still measure against the economics and pen to paper realities U.S. producers are facing.”
USCA stresses the need for rigorous inspection and transparent reporting as volumes increase. “Transparency will be key,” President Tupper added. “As imports from Argentina and other countries increase, a close and continuous focus on inspection, disease status, and product integrity is non‑negotiable. The data must be clear and accessible to producers, processors, and policymakers alike. USCA will be watching this closely and engaging with USDA and USTR to ensure that U.S. consumers and cattle producers are protected.”
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North Dakota Farmers Union/U.S. Cattlemen’s Association
