WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has signed an executive order quadrupling the amount of beef imported from Argentina.
Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said this will “grant an unprecedented expansion of preferential access for Argentine beef to its market by 100,000 tons,” which is an increase of $800 million in Argentine beef exports.
“While the administration claims this move will lower grocery bills, history and economists tell us otherwise: it will push down the prices paid to American ranchers, not the grocery store prices paid by consumers,” North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue said. “That is why this plan has garnered nearly unanimous opposition from U.S. cattle producers.”
Perdue added the Trump administration should focus on supporting American ranchers and not foreign competitors. He believes it should also work on addressing consolidation in meat packing and country-of-origin labeling.
“I believe that working with our ranchers to help grow their herds and also working to reduce supply chain costs are the way to give American consumers the highest-quality beef at the best price, rather than increasing imports,” Republican North Dakota Senator John Hoeven said. “I have spoken to President Trump about the issue and will be speaking with U.S. Trade Representative Greer to discuss this issue and others impacting our agriculture industry.”
“I, of course, wholeheartedly support President Trump’s goal of lowering grocery prices for consumers, but I believe there are better ways to accomplish that mission, and we should be about those,” Republican North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer said. “Our beef in North Dakota and throughout the country is the best of the best. It’s the highest quality in the world and we should be working towards rebuilding our herd sizes, looking at the meatpacking industry, and doing those things instead of importing more beef from Argentina.”
“President Trump’s decision to import more beef from Argentina won’t significantly lower prices at the grocery store,” Democratic Minnesota Senator Tina Smith said. “This move is just going to hurt American farmers and ranchers.”
“I am reinforcing two important priorities with President Trump and Ag Secretary Rollins. First, they must move quickly on their antitrust investigation into the beef packing industry. That is vital to providing fair prices for producers and lowering prices for consumers. Second, the USDA must enforce existing law and rigorously inspect all beef imports into this country. This is essential. Our ranchers have spent generations building a reputation for safe, high-quality beef products. Their livelihoods depend on it. Any foreign beef imports must come with rigorous inspections of all imported product to guarantee safety and protect the integrity of the U.S. beef industry,“ Republican North Dakota Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak said.
Flag Family News has reached out to Democratic Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Republican Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach for comment, but we haven’t heard back.
