President Donald Trump on Monday said his administration is considering buying beef from Argentina, angering American cattle ranchers at a time when US agriculture has been strained by high costs and trade uncertainty.
Trump made the comment to reporters aboard Air Force One as a possible way to lower the price of beef in the United States.
“One of the things we’re thinking about doing is [importing] beef from Argentina,” he said.
The announcement comes on the heels of the Trump administration on October 10 stating his administration had finalised a $20 billion financial framework for Argentina.
The deal has angered Democrats and some Republicans, because the bailout was announced roughly ten days into the US federal government shutdown. Argentina, led by vocal Trump ally President Javier Milei, directly competes with US soybean farmers for the Chinese market.
Asked what he would say to American farmers who feel the new deal is benefiting the South American country more than them, Trump said, “Argentina is fighting for its life.”
“You don’t know anything about it,” he said, directly addressing the reporter who asked the question. “They’re fighting for their life. Nothing’s benefiting Argentina. They’re fighting for their life. Do you understand what that means? They have no money. They have no anything. They’re fighting so hard to survive. If I can help them survive in a free world — I happen to like the president of Argentina. I think he’s trying to do the best he can.”
Concerning the beef deal, he explained the United States would “buy some beef from Argentina,” explaining “if we do that, that will bring our beef prices down.”
He said the Trump administration wouldn’t buy “that much from Argentina” but doing so would help the South American nation while lowering beef prices at home.
The cost of beef in the United States has hit record highs this year, steadily rising since December. According to the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, the cost of beef has increased for the eighth consecutive month through August and was 13.9 per cent higher in August compared to a year earlier. (UPI)
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