New US beef import quota announced
President Donald Trump has formalized a proclamation to temporarily expand the entry of lean beef into the United States without tariffs, outside the usual quota system. The measure allows up to 300,000 tons over 90 days, starting September 1, 2026, with a maximum of 100,000 tons per month. The beef must be lean cuts intended exclusively for blending with US beef to produce ground beef.[S1][S3][S4]
The White House stated that the program aims to increase the supply of beef for ground beef production to contain consumer prices, amid a sharp decline in the US cattle herd and growing supply problems. The administration expects the additional imports to increase beef supply by about 10% compared to current projections. The cuts should be sold at a discount of nearly 25% from usual import values.[S1][S3][S4]
Argentina excluded due to existing quota
Argentina is excluded from this new benefit because it already has a specific tariff-rate quota for beef exports to the US, as do Uruguay, Australia, and New Zealand. Historically, Argentina had a quota of 20,000 tons, which the Trump administration raised to 100,000 tons this year. The proclamation explicitly states that it does not modify commitments with countries that have free trade agreements or existing specific quotas.[S1][S3][S4]
The new 300,000-ton quota is reserved for the "other countries or areas" contingent, used mainly by Brazil, Paraguay, Ireland, Japan, and the Netherlands. Brazil, which currently lacks a preferential quota, emerges as one of the main beneficiaries. Mario Ravettino, president of the ABC Export Consortium, confirmed that the measure is for countries without a specific WTO quota, leaving Argentina and its regional partners out, with Brazil as the only beneficiary.[S3][S5][S6]
US beef crisis and Argentina's export growth
The White House justified the decision by citing the delicate situation of US livestock farming, blaming the Biden administration for leaving the sector with one of the most serious beef supply crises in decades, with the cattle herd at its lowest level in 75 years. Factors such as drought, wildfires, and restrictions on importing live cattle from Mexico due to the New World screwworm have led the USDA to project a 4% drop in beef production compared to 2025.[S1][S3][S4]
Despite the exclusion, Argentina's access to the US market has improved significantly. In February, a bilateral agreement expanded Argentina's quota from 20,000 to 100,000 tons. In the first seven months of 2026, Argentina exported 67,118 tons of beef to the US, compared to 22,183 tons in the same period of 2025, a 202.6% increase. The sector estimated the quota expansion could represent up to US$800 million in additional exports if fully utilized.[S4][S5][S6]
