North Dakota Farmers Union Criticizes Increased Argentine Beef Quotas

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The North Dakota Farmers Union has spoken out against the recent decision by the Trump administration to quadruple beef import quotas from Argentina. NDFU President Matt Perdue argues that the increased imports will lower profits for American ranchers, and he suggests that country-of-origin labeling could help offset the impact of the new quotas.

Why it matters

The dispute over beef imports highlights the ongoing tensions between domestic agricultural producers and the desire to increase trade and access to global markets. North Dakota is a major beef-producing state, so the Farmers Union's opposition reflects the concerns of local ranchers who could be negatively impacted by the policy change.

The details

On February 6th, President Trump signed a proclamation to increase beef import quotas from Argentina by fourfold. The administration justified the move by citing the U.S. as the world's largest consumer of beef by volume and the second-largest per capita. However, NDFU President Matt Perdue argues that the higher imports will lower profits for American ranchers.

• On February 6th, 2026, President Trump signed a proclamation to increase beef import quotas from Argentina.
• The North Dakota Farmers Union responded to the policy change shortly after the announcement.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The North Dakota Farmers Union is expected to continue advocating for policies that support domestic beef producers, such as country-of-origin labeling requirements, in response to the increased Argentine beef quotas.