Tomi Lahren, co-host of The Big Weekend Show, says the US should import less foreign beef and label international imports on “The Bottom Line.”
The White House has announced several trade deals with South and Central American countries that could lead to reduced tariffs on certain goods, including certain coffee, banana and beef exports. The countries involved in the agreements are Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador and Argentina.
“Today’s announcement shows that America can defend its domestic manufacturing while gaining expanded market access with our trading partners,” the White House said. a fact sheet on the offers.
Senior administration officials said that under the deals, reciprocal tariffs would remain in place, but certain items would see lower tariffs, such as things that can’t be produced in the U.S., including coffee, bananas and cocoa. However, most imports are not eligible under the deals and for these goods Argentina, Guatemala and El Salvador will be subject to a 10% tariff, while Ecuador will have a 15% tariff.
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President Donald Trump listens as government officials speak during an event in the Oval Office of the White House on October 16, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The framework for the deal with Argentina also includes lower tariffs on Argentine beef imports, but does not increase U.S. import quotas.
The Trump administration drew the ire of both Democrats and Republicans over a proposed expansion of beef imports from Argentina. In a letter to Agriculture Secretaries Brooke Rollins and Greer, several Republican lawmakers expressed concern about how this will impact American farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers.
“While we share the Administration’s goal of lowering costs for consumers, we are concerned that granting additional market access to Argentina – already one of our largest beef suppliers – will undermine U.S. livestock producers, weaken our position in ongoing trade negotiations and reintroduce avoidable animal health risks,” said the letter, which was signed by 14 Republicans.
Cattle are seen in corrals at the Canuelas Market in Canuelas, Buenos Aires, Argentina, on May 20, 2025. (Agustin Marcarian/Reuters)
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The letter was signed by Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, and Reps. Adrian Smith, of Nebraska; Greg Steube, from Florida; Beth Van Duyne, of Texas; Mike Carey, from Ohio; Michelle Fischbach, from Minnesota; Bruce Westerman, of Arkansas; Rudy Yakym III, of Indiana; Scott Franklin, from Florida; Max Miller, of Ohio; David Kustoff, of Tennessee; Frank Lucas, of Oklahoma; Greg Murphy, from North Carolina; and Aaron Bean, from Florida.
“Providing greater access to countries that maintain barriers to U.S. beef or that have previously struggled to maintain animal health transparency risks disrupting markets and depressing livestock prices without delivering measurable benefits to consumers,” the lawmakers said.
The fourteen Republicans called for more domestic investment as a way to lower prices, rather than relying on imports. However, the deal outlined on Thursday appears to strike a political balance, giving Argentina some relief on tariffs while leaving quotas unchanged.
President Donald Trump makes remarks about reciprocal tariffs as U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick holds a card during a Rose Garden event titled “Make America Wealthy Again” at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 2, 2025 (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
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The White House highlighted in a fact sheet how Americans may benefit from the deals. When it comes to El Salvador, the Trump administration said San Salvador has pledged to address non-tariff barriers, “including by streamlining regulatory requirements and approvals for U.S. exports.” Meanwhile, Argentina has agreed to give “preferential market access” to U.S. goods such as medicines, chemicals, technology and more. In addition, Guatemala has committed to refrain from “imposing taxes on digital services or other measures that discriminate against U.S. digital services or U.S. products distributed digitally.”
Ecuador, which faces higher tariffs than the other three countries, said it would adopt and enforce a high level of environmental protection and improve forest management to prevent illegal logging.
