US President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing the import of an additional 80,000 tons of lean beef from Argentina in 2026 to stabilize domestic beef supply and prices.

On February 6, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order authorizing the import of an additional 80,000 tons of lean beef from Argentina in 2026, aiming to secure a supply of ground beef for the US domestic market amid declining domestic supply.

According to a White House statement, President Trump said that domestic lean beef supplies would be “insufficient to meet demand at reasonable prices” due to the impact of natural disasters, including drought and wildfires, as well as severe fluctuations in the domestic market. Therefore, the US government decided to open additional import quotas specifically for Argentina.

According to the decree, an additional 80,000 tons of lean beef will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, divided into four quarterly shipments of 20,000 tons each. The first shipment is expected to be imported starting February 13th.

This measure also temporarily adjusts tariff quotas on beef, thereby helping to stabilize prices in the US market, after beef prices reached a record high of $6.69 per pound by the end of 2025, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The decision came just one day after the United States and Argentina signed a bilateral agreement to eliminate reciprocal tariffs on more than 2,000 goods from both countries, across various manufacturing sectors. This agreement is considered a significant step in strengthening bilateral trade relations.

The special agreement for lean Argentinian beef also comes amid a backdrop of strengthening economic relations between the two countries.

Earlier, in November 2025, Argentine President Javier Milei attended the Americas Business Forum in Miami, where he stated that Washington would grant Argentina beef import quotas as a symbol of close trade cooperation between the two countries.

The US support for Argentina is also evident in the financial sphere. Last year, the US Treasury Department supported President Milei's government's efforts in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other financial institutions, as part of a support program that included financial commitments totaling approximately $40 billion.

Source: VTV

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