R-CALF USA Criticizes Presidential Proclamation Increasing Argentinian Beef Imports

Beef industry group warns that higher imports will hurt U.S. cattle farmers and ranchers without lowering consumer prices.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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R-CALF USA, a beef industry advocacy group, has issued a statement criticizing a recent presidential proclamation that increases the import quota for lean beef trimmings from Argentina by 80,000 metric tons in 2026. The group argues that higher beef imports will harm U.S. cattle producers without necessarily lowering consumer beef prices due to the concentrated nature of the U.S. beef market.

Why it matters

The proclamation is intended to increase the supply of imported beef and lower consumer prices for ground beef. However, R-CALF USA contends that in the past, increased beef imports have not led to lower retail prices, but instead have contributed to the ongoing contraction of the U.S. cattle herd and the exodus of cattle farms and ranches.

The details

The proclamation increases the in-quota quantity of lean beef trimmings that can be imported from Argentina by an additional 80,000 metric tons during the 2026 calendar year, on top of the existing 20,000-metric-ton annual limit. The purpose is to increase the supply of imported lean beef trimmings to lower the price of ground beef for American consumers.

  • The proclamation was issued by President Trump on Friday, February 9, 2026.
  • The additional 80,000-metric-ton import allocation is set to expire at the end of 2026.

The players

R-CALF USA

A beef industry advocacy group based in Billings, Montana that represents U.S. cattle farmers and ranchers.

President Trump

The former U.S. president who issued the proclamation increasing Argentinian beef imports.

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What they’re saying

“Previous administrations had similarly invited increased beef imports from foreign countries with the same expectation that increased imported supplies would lower consumer beef prices. Such analyses by previous administrations accompanied proposals to allow additional beef imports from such countries as Argentina, Brazil, Namibia and Paraguay. In each of these analyses, the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted that the negative impact to cattle farmers and ranchers would be offset by a larger benefit to consumers.”

— Bill Bullard, CEO, R-CALF USA (americanagnetwork.com)

“In practice, however, consumer beef prices were not reduced by increased supplies of imported beef. Instead, increased quantities of imports correlated with the shrinking of the U.S. cattle herd, the exodus of U.S. cattle farmers and ranchers, and higher consumer beef prices.”

— Bill Bullard, CEO, R-CALF USA (americanagnetwork.com)

What’s next

The additional 80,000-metric-ton import allocation from Argentina is set to expire at the end of 2026.

The takeaway

R-CALF USA argues that increasing beef imports, even with the intent of lowering consumer prices, has historically harmed U.S. cattle producers without delivering the promised benefits to consumers. The group calls for stronger antitrust enforcement, trade policies that prioritize food security, and country-of-origin labeling to empower consumer choice.