President Trump has approved a trade agreement that will significantly expand Argentina beef imports into the United States, a move projected to increase Argentine exports by $800 million and draw criticism from Republican lawmakers and U.S. agricultural groups.
Under the agreement, Argentina will gain expanded preferential access to the U.S. market, allowing an additional 100,000 tons of beef imports. Argentina’s foreign ministry confirmed Thursday that the deal grants “an unprecedented expansion of preferential access for Argentine beef to its market by 100,000 tons.”
The ministry said the arrangement will permit 80,000 additional tons of Argentine beef to enter U.S. markets by 2026, on top of the existing 20,000-ton allowance. Officials estimate the expansion will generate roughly $800 million in additional exports to the United States.
President Trump is expected to formally announce the deal Friday. The White House framed the agreement as consistent with the administration’s broader trade policy goals.
“President Trump pledged to ink fairer trade deals while supporting our nation’s agriculture industry. Promises made, promises kept!” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Hill’s partners at NewsNation.
The agreement builds on trade frameworks the Trump administration unveiled in November with Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The expanded beef access represents a significant win for Argentina’s President Javier Milei, who has emerged as one of Trump’s closest political allies in Latin America.
“As you can see, we are strongly committed to making Argentina great again,” Milei said following the framework’s release last year.
In addition to the beef provisions, Argentina’s foreign ministry said the U.S. government “reaffirmed its commitment” to reviewing tariffs on aluminum and steel, a longstanding point of contention in bilateral trade discussions.
Despite diplomatic gains, the deal has generated resistance in Washington. More than a dozen House Republicans sent a letter in October to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, raising concerns about the administration’s plan to increase beef imports and the potential consequences for U.S. cattle producers.
The then-proposal also drew criticism from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and lawmakers from both parties, particularly those representing states with high cattle inventory, who warned that expanded imports could pressure domestic beef prices and affect American ranchers.
