President Donald Trump signed an executive order on February 6 temporarily quadrupling the amount of beef the United States can import from Argentina under a new trade agreement. As CBS News (February 7, 2026) reported, the move is aimed at lowering record beef prices for American consumers, increasing the in-quota tariff-rate quota for lean beef trimmings by 80,000 metric tons for calendar year 2026.
The additional imports will be released in four quarterly tranches of 20,000 metric tons each, beginning February 13 and continuing through the year. According to The Hill (February 6, 2026), Argentina's Foreign Ministry described it as an unprecedented expansion worth $800 million in beef exports. AgWeb (February 7, 2026) reported the combined quotas allow Argentina to export up to 100,000 metric tons to the U.S. in 2026.
The action comes as USDA confirmed the U.S. cattle herd now stands at 86.2 million head as of January 1, 2026 — the lowest since 1951, according to AgWeb's analysis. The White House attributed low supplies to droughts and wildfires in 2022 that impacted key cattle-producing states, along with restrictions on Mexican cattle imports following New World screwworm detections.
U.S. consumers have seen beef prices climb steadily, with ground beef reaching an average price of $6.69 per pound in December 2025 — the highest level since the Department of Labor began tracking prices in 1984. As AgWeb noted, despite higher prices, demand remains strong, prompting record beef imports of 4.64 billion pounds in 2024, a 24 percent increase over the previous year.
The deal has drawn sharp criticism from cattle industry groups. Cattle Range (February 2026) reported the National Cattlemen's Beef Association called it a misguided effort, while The New American (February 12, 2026) noted the United States Cattlemen's Association warned that trade policy cannot substitute for rebuilding the domestic herd. A bipartisan group of Republican lawmakers from major cattle-producing states had previously voiced opposition.
The agreement includes reciprocal provisions. According to Beef Magazine (February 7, 2026), 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.
However, analysts question whether the additional imports will meaningfully reduce retail prices. Farm Progress (February 13, 2026) reported that an American Farm Bureau Federation analysis found the 80,000 metric tons represents only about one percent of total U.S. beef consumption. Michigan State professor David Ortega characterised the volume as basically a rounding error against Americans' annual consumption of more than 25 billion pounds.
At CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged that nobody in the administration wants to be importing beef, but said Trump promised to drive down grocery prices, requiring a balance. As Farm Policy News (February 2026) reported, Kennedy urged ranchers to increase the size of their herds rather than slaughtering breeding cows.
The deal strengthens the partnership between Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei. E&E News/POLITICO (February 6, 2026) reported it first flagged the White House was considering the quota increase in October 2025, with the final order including peace offerings to U.S. ranchers such as limits on beef types and an end date on the expanded quota.
For global food prices, the deal signals the lengths to which the Trump administration is willing to go to address consumer food costs ahead of midterm elections. While the direct impact on U.S. beef prices may be modest, it represents a significant boost for Argentina's export-oriented cattle industry and reflects the deepening strain in global protein supply chains.