President Donald Trump’s tightening ties with Argentina have continued to vex rural American farmers, who have warned increased aid to the South American country will jeopardize the domestic agricultural economy. First, there was news of a $20 billion swap line arranged by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Then there was revelation that Argentina was selling soybeans to China, which had cut U.S. imports to zero. Now, the Argentine cattle question is in open play.
Trump proposed on Sunday that the U.S. could purchase beef from Argentina as a way to bring down prices for American consumers. Beef costs have ballooned as much as 12% in the past year. The suggestion was met with exasperation from U.S. cattle ranchers, who argued the move would disrupt the free market and introduce unnecessary risk factors to domestic beef supply.
