Trump Strikes Huge New Deal
President Trump has finalized a new trade agreement that significantly increases beef imports from Argentina, a decision that is drawing concern from Republican lawmakers and leaders within the U.S. agricultural industry.
Argentina’s foreign ministry confirmed Thursday that the agreement grants expanded access for Argentine beef to the American market. Officials described the deal as an unprecedented expansion, allowing up to 100,000 metric tons of Argentine beef to enter the United States under preferential terms.
Under the agreement, Argentina will be permitted to ship an additional 80,000 tons of beef to the U.S. by 2026, on top of the 20,000 tons already approved. Argentine officials estimate the deal could result in roughly $800 million in new beef exports to the United States.
Argentina’s foreign ministry added that U.S. officials reiterated their intention to reassess current aluminum and steel tariffs, indicating that wider trade negotiations between the two countries are still underway.
President Trump is expected to formally announce the agreement on Friday.
“President Trump pledged to negotiate fairer trade agreements while continuing to support America’s agricultural industry,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement provided to NewsNation. “Promises made, promises kept.”
The Trump administration revealed last November that it had established early trade frameworks with Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador and Argentina, part of a wider strategy to expand and reinforce economic ties throughout Latin America.
The deal represents a significant political win for Argentine President Javier Milei, a close Trump ally who has pursued aggressive free-market reforms and aligned himself with Trump’s economic vision.
Following the release of the initial framework last year, Milei said Argentina was “strongly committed to making the country great again,” echoing Trump’s signature message.
Despite the diplomatic and economic upside for Argentina, the agreement has raised concerns among Republican lawmakers, particularly those representing cattle-producing states. Critics argue that increasing foreign beef imports could place additional pressure on American ranchers already dealing with rising costs and market uncertainty.
In October, more than a dozen House Republicans sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer expressing concern over plans to expand Argentine beef imports. Lawmakers warned the move could negatively impact domestic cattle producers.
The proposal also drew opposition from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, along with bipartisan lawmakers from states with large cattle inventories. Many urged the administration to ensure U.S. farmers and ranchers remain protected as trade negotiations move forward.
As President Trump prepares to announce the agreement, the deal underscores an ongoing debate within the Republican Party: how to balance international trade objectives with long-standing commitments to America’s agricultural economy.
