Trump Expands Tariff-Free Beef Imports to Prevent Price Surge
Under the move, an extra 80,000 metric tons — roughly 176 million pounds — of lean beef trimmings from Argentina will be allowed into the United States each year without duties. The additional volume will be distributed evenly across four quarters, with 20,000 metric tons, or about 44 million pounds, allocated per tranche.
The White House said the agriculture secretary, working with the U.S. trade representative, will continue to track domestic lean beef availability and import levels and recommend additional steps if needed to stabilize supplies.
The action follows a sharp contraction in U.S. cattle numbers. According to the statement, the national herd fell to a record low of 86.2 million head as of January 2026, while beef cow inventories have dropped 8.6% since 2020.
Prolonged drought conditions and widespread wildfires have reduced grazing acreage and feed availability, the statement said. Restrictions on cattle imports from Mexico after detections of New World screwworm have further squeezed domestic production.
“As a result, ground beef prices reached an average of $6.69 per pound in December 2025, the highest level since tracking began in the 1980s,” the statement added.
The White House noted that the United States remains the world’s largest beef consumer by volume and ranks second globally on a per-capita basis, underscoring the product’s central role in American diets.
The administration said the tariff adjustment is part of a broader strategy to support ranchers while reducing costs for consumers, citing tax cuts enacted in July 2025 and additional measures announced in October 2025 aimed at strengthening the beef industry.
In December 2025, Trump also signed an executive order targeting price fixing and anti-competitive behavior in food markets, according to the statement.
The White House reiterated its commitment to backing U.S. cattle producers while keeping beef affordable for American families.
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