“America First” is more than a slogan for President Trump. It has become a governance framework and almost a mandate for his government. America First’s policy decisions have manifested in immigration strategy, energy regulation and, perhaps most obviously, trade policy.
The beef market is in dire need of an America First recalibration after President Joe Biden’s failed policies. Prices for ground beef have become astronomical, reaching an average of $6.69 per pound in December, the highest price since tracking began in the 1980s.
These price increases exceed those of other food categories due to structural problems in the domestic beef market. Analysis from the American Farm Bureau Federation shows that the domestic herd has fallen to its lowest level in 75 years and continues to shrink as fewer calves are retained for breeding. As a result, the U.S. livestock population is unlikely to expand until at least 2028.
Since my time as Governor of Texas and Agriculture Commissioner for the nation’s largest livestock producing state, I understand both the gravity of this situation and the need for a deliberate policy response.
Cattle are shown in pens at the Cattlemen’s Columbus Livestock Auction in Columbus on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle/Getty Images)
In October, President Donald Trump discussed the need for beef affordability measures and signaled plans to increase imports, which he recently completed through an executive order, opening up the U.S. to an additional 80,000 tons of lean beef trimmings from Argentina this year.
This move is valuable because the U.S. does not produce enough beef to meet domestic demand, necessitating imports. Argentina is a strategic and appropriate partner to solve our beef shortage because they specialize in cheaper, lean beef. These trimmings from Argentina will be blended with fattier domestic beef to produce hamburgers and ground beef products – affordable staples that are in high demand.
Importing the specific type of affordable beef directly addresses supply and is in line with an America First approach. Expanding lean beef imports will reduce pressure on our beef supply, reducing costs for consumers and protecting ranchers’ premium production.
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The impact of these smart imports is complemented and multiplied by broader efforts to strengthen the livestock sector, including Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ October plan to strengthen the U.S. beef industry and President Trump’s directive to the Justice Department to crack down on foreign-owned meatpacking cartels.
In addition to these efforts, the government should reassess the existing allocation of tariff quotas (TRQs), which were configured in 1995. Review would recognize shifts in global production patterns and domestic market needs, putting U.S. farmers in a better position.
Today, the vast majority of tariff-free beef imports go to Australia and New Zealand. Both countries focus heavily on premium, grass-fed exports – products that compete directly with higher-priced U.S. beef in domestic and international markets.
In contrast, the import of lean beef from South America mainly serves the cheaper mixed segment. Ranchers and their supporters who criticize the increase in imports from Argentina but fail to push back on the virtually unlimited market access enjoyed by Australia and New Zealand are fighting the wrong battle.
The beef market is in dire need of an America First recalibration after President Joe Biden’s failed policies.
Some policymakers have expressed concern that imports would sideline U.S. ranchers and that we should focus on cutting red tape, lowering production costs and supporting livestock growth. These priorities are valid, but not mutually exclusive when it comes to strategic imports.
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The idea that imports should be avoided is misleading and ignores the structural supply reality. Strategic imports, such as lean trimmings, can stabilize prices while allowing U.S. producers to focus on premium markets, where profitability is strongest. This is how we pave the way for ranchers’ success.
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If American ranchers are forced to simultaneously try to dominate by serving both low-margin commodity markets and high-margin premium markets with higher cutbacks, they may become overwhelmed. From a long-term market perspective, excessive expansion may discourage heifer retention and delay the necessary herd rebuilding.
President Trump and his team are on the right track with the deal with Argentina. This expansion must be unapologetically defended, integrated beyond 2026 and seen as part of a long-term strategy and not as a temporary measure.
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Permanently expanding Argentina’s tariff-free access to the U.S. lean beef residue market is the way we can ensure prices stop rising. The government should also consider options for expanded imports from other South American countries, such as Paraguay and Uruguay, where production matches shortages in the U.S. market.
Building an American First beef market requires precision and long-term thinking. Current policy shifts are moving in the right direction, which will support farmers, strengthen our market, and deliver affordability for American consumers.
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