More Argentina beef imports won't do much to ease costs for consumers, according to experts

February 10, 2026

TL;DR

President Trump signed an executive order to increase U.S. beef imports from Argentina by 80,000 metric tons this year.
The imported beef consists of lean beef trimmings used for ground beef.
Experts doubt the increase will significantly lower consumer prices, as it represents less than 1% of the U.S. beef supply.
High beef prices are attributed to extreme weather conditions (droughts, wildfires) that have reduced the cattle supply, making it harder to grow feedstock and forcing ranchers to sell off cows.
Rebuilding the U.S. cattle supply is considered the key to lowering prices, a process that is expected to take several years.

Continue reading the original article