With beef prices soaring to record highs, President Donald Trump is considering a move that runs counter to his long-standing “America First” economic mantra: buying beef from Argentina.
The former president, known for imposing tariffs on nearly every product imported into the United States, said he is open to importing Argentine beef to help stabilize domestic prices and strengthen supply. The idea marks a rare acknowledgment that open markets—rather than protectionism—might offer a solution to inflationary pressures.
“We would buy beef from Argentina,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. “If we do that, our beef prices will come down.”
Ground beef prices in the U.S. have surged roughly 15 percent this year, reaching a record $7 per pound (around $15 per kilogram). The increase stems from a combination of factors: higher tariffs on key trading partners, extreme weather, and domestic supply constraints.
Severe droughts across major cattle-producing states have forced ranchers to downsize their herds, leading to supply shortages and rising costs. Meanwhile, imports from countries such as Brazil have dropped sharply, largely due to the tariffs Trump himself imposed on agricultural goods.
A Strategic Pivot Toward Argentina
Trump’s consideration of Argentine beef reflects a broader warming of ties between Washington and Buenos Aires. The U.S. government recently extended a $20 billion economic aid package to Argentina and has been purchasing Argentine pesos to support the struggling local currency.
During Argentine President Javier Milei’s visit to the White House, Trump hinted at the possibility of a free trade agreement with Argentina—one that may now include beef as a central element.
While the proposal could bring short-term relief to American consumers, it has already sparked backlash among U.S. ranchers, who view it as an attack on their livelihoods.
“This plan only creates chaos at a critical time for American cattle producers,” said Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. “It won’t lower store prices, but it will harm rural economies.”
Woodall noted that U.S. beef exports to Argentina totaled just $7 million over the past five years, compared with $801 million in imports from Argentina. He also raised biosecurity concerns, pointing to Argentina’s historical battles with foot-and-mouth disease, which could threaten American herds.
Fierce Opposition From U.S. Ranchers
Argentina currently accounts for about 2 percent of U.S. beef imports, limited by a quota system that triggers additional tariffs once surpassed. Expanding that quota, critics say, would undercut domestic producers while offering little guarantee of quality control.
Justin Tupper, president of the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, called the proposal a “terrible idea.” He warned that processors might blend cheaper imported beef with U.S. meat to suppress prices, undermining the local market.
“We’re bringing in something that’s going to destroy our own industry,” said Tupper, a rancher from South Dakota. “A pound of ground beef isn’t more expensive than a fancy cup of coffee—it doesn’t justify wrecking American cattle farming.”
A Balancing Act Between Inflation and Protectionism
For Argentina, the move could represent another economic victory amid its deep financial struggles. The country has already benefited from global trade shifts triggered by Trump’s tariff wars, which redirected Chinese soybean purchases from the U.S. to South America.
Trump has repeatedly promised to use tariff revenue to support American farmers, though no concrete aid plan has yet materialized. Analysts expect him to raise the issue when he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month.
This wouldn’t be the first time Trump has relaxed his protectionist stance to contain inflation. Earlier this year, his administration sourced eggs from South Korea and Turkey to offset domestic shortages.
Trump, who has cultivated a personal rapport with Milei, defended his outreach to Argentina, describing the nation as a crucial ally in curbing China’s growing influence in Latin America.
“Argentina is fighting for its life,” Trump said. “They have no money, nothing. They’re struggling very hard to survive.”
As U.S. consumers brace for higher grocery bills and ranchers push back against foreign competition, Trump’s potential Argentine beef deal underscores the complex balancing act between economic nationalism and global market realities—a dilemma that could define the next phase of his trade policy.