- - Trump allows more tariff-free Argentinian beef in bid to lower prices

Zac Anderson, USA TODAYFebruary 7, 2026 at 12:24 AM

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President Donald Trump is allowing more beef from Argentina to enter the U.S. tariff-free as part of an ongoing bid to drive down grocery costs.

Trump signed a proclamation Feb. 6 that allows an additional 80,000 metric tons of Argentinian beef to be imported into the U.S. annually without facing tariffs, according to a White House fact sheet.

Argentina's foreign ministry said the move, which is part of a broader trade deal, will dramatically increase the amount of its beef given preferential access to the U.S. market from the current 20,000 tons. The increase in Argentinian beef exports to the U.S. is worth $800 million, the ministry said.

1 / 79Donald Trump's second term: Actions, travels of the 47th presidentPresident Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive for the premiere of the documentary film "Melania" at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, recently renamed to include U.S. President Donald Trump's name, in Washington, DC on Jan. 29, 2026.

The proclamation covers "lean beef trimmings" that are used to make ground beef. It notes that the cost for a pound of ground beef spiked to $6.69 in December, the highest price since tracking by the Department of Labor began in the 1980s.

"As President of the United States, I have a responsibility to ensure that hard-working Americans can afford to feed themselves and their families," the proclamation states.

Trump has increased tariffs on a wide variety of products in his second term, touting the revenues they are generating. But he lately has sought to exempt products from tariffs or delay their implementation amid concerns about consumer costs.

Beef products on display in a grocery store on July 22, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

The president announced last month that he is delaying a tariff increase on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities amid rising concerns about affordability. And in November he announced tariff exemptions on a wide variety of products, including beef, coffee, chocolate, bananas, tomatoes and oranges.

The National Cattleman's Beef Association has opposed the idea of bringing in more beef from Argentina, responding to comments Trump made about Argentinian beef in October with a statement saying it "harms American cattlemen and women."

Trump has forged a close relationship with Argentine President Javier Milei, hosting him at the White House in October and advancing a $20 billion bailout to shore up the country's economy.

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