Experts doubt beef imports from Argentina will reduce consumer costs

President Trump’s recent executive order aimed at increasing U.S. beef imports from Argentina has failed to significantly impact consumer costs, according to economists and trade experts. The move allowed for an additional 80,000 metric tons of lean beef trimmings to enter the United States tariff-free this year, a paltry 0.6% of the nation’s annual beef supply.

David Ortega, a food economist at Michigan State University, told CBS News that while the order has symbolic significance, its immediate effect on beef prices is negligible: “We’re talking about less than 1% of supply — not enough to move consumer costs.”

The U.S. beef industry faces ongoing challenges exacerbated by weather conditions and past events like droughts and wildfires. These factors have led to a significant reduction in cattle supplies, driving up ground beef prices from $3.95 per pound five years ago to an average of $6.69 today—up 19% over the same period.

Despite these challenges, the White House has acknowledged market conditions with its recent executive action aimed at ensuring affordable ground beef for American families. However, experts are skeptical that this order will have any real impact on beef prices in the short term. Derrell Peel, a professor of agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University, expressed doubts: “Nothing the administration can do in the near future can make U.S. beef prices come down.”

Experts believe the most effective long-term solution lies in rebuilding the cattle supply through strategies like reducing the number of female cows culled for breeding and maintaining existing herd numbers. Currently, the U.S. is at an all-time low with just 27.6 million beef cattle on January 1st.

In a recent fact sheet, President Trump highlighted his administration’s efforts to address market challenges by “taking action” to ensure that ground beef remains affordable for American families. Despite these measures, experts remain cautiously optimistic about potential future improvements in the industry and prices.

Contributed by The Associated Press.