Trump cited concerns from the Department of Agriculture that beef costs have risen sharply in recent years due to drought conditions in major cattle-producing states, and other market pressures have cut U.S. cattle herds to historically low levels.

Ground beef averaged $6.69 per pound in December 2025, the highest since tracking began in the 1980s, even as demand for beef products stayed strong, according to Department of Labor Statistics data cited in the order.

Trump first hinted at signing an order to import Argentine beef in October, after beef production slowed domestically and screwworm outbreaks disrupted imports from Mexico. 

Trump said in the proclamation that he has a “responsibility to ensure that hard-working Americans can afford to feed themselves and their families” and that the action is warranted under federal trade laws that allow quota adjustments when supply does not meet domestic demand at reasonable prices. 

The measure comes amid broader concerns about grocery inflation and rising food costs, which have drawn political scrutiny and spurred previous administration actions, including investigations into possible price-fixing and anti-competitive behavior in food supply chains. 

In December, Trump signed a separate executive order directing the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission to form task forces to examine price-fixing and foreign influence in food markets. 

While the tariff adjustment does not directly alter long-standing trade policy or broader agricultural subsidies, it reflects the administration’s effort to address consumer concerns over grocery expenses ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. 

The expanded quotas are scheduled to be administered in four quarterly tranches throughout 2026, with the first tranche opening Feb. 13 and running through March 31. 

EPA ISSUES GUIDANCE BACKING FARMERS ‘RIGHT-TO-REPAIR’ EQUIPMENT

Trump signed an additional executive order Friday that would allow commercial fishing in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.

The aquatic region was previously protected by an executive order signed by Barack Obama and furthered by Joe Biden.