Beef Imports From Argentina on Pace to Double in 2026

U.S. imports of beef from Argentina could double this year after the Trump administration drastically raised the country’s tariff-rate quota (TRQ), based on the trend through the first several months of 2026.

With the U.S. cattle herd at historic lows and consumer prices at record highs, President Donald Trump in October suggested stepped up imports from Argentina. The White House followed through in February, raising Argentina’s TRQ for the year from 20,000 metric tons (mt) to 100,000 mt.

Amid high U.S. demand, mostly for frozen lean trimmings to blend into ground beef products, imports from Argentina jumped 38% last year to 33,507.4 mt, despite the quantity above 20,000 mt facing an out-of-quota tariff rate of 26.4%.

Through April, imports from Argentina were up 90% compared to the first four months of 2025 to 27,323.1 mt. By value, Argentine beef imports through April are up 113% to $227 million. The in-quota imports face only a duty of 4.4 cents per kilogram.