Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins discusses the battle over authorities spending on ‘The Night Edit.’
Greater than a dozen Republican lawmakers pushed again in opposition to the Trump administration’s plan to broaden beef imports from Argentina, saying that whereas the plan goals to ease the stress on Individuals’ wallets, it hurts U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers.
“Whereas we share the Administration’s objective of reducing prices for shoppers, we’re involved that granting further market entry to Argentina — already considered one of our largest beef suppliers — will undermine American cattle producers, weaken our place in ongoing commerce negotiations, and reintroduce avoidable animal-health dangers,” the letter addressed to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer learn.
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A cow is seen on a farm in Jamestown, Calif., on Oct. 26, 2025. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP through Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
The letter was signed by Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., who’s chairman of the Home Methods and Means Committee, and Reps. Adrian Smith, of Nebraska; Greg Steube, of Florida; Beth Van Duyne, of Texas; Mike Carey, of Ohio; Michelle Fischbach, of Minnesota; Bruce Westerman, of Arkansas; Rudy Yakym III, of Indiana; Scott Franklin, of Florida; Max Miller, of Ohio; David Kustoff, of Tennessee; Frank Lucas, of Oklahoma; Greg Murphy, of North Carolina; and Aaron Bean, of Florida.
“Offering larger entry to nations that keep obstacles in opposition to U.S. beef or have beforehand struggled to keep up animal well being transparency dangers disrupting markets and miserable cattle costs with out delivering measurable advantages to shoppers,” the lawmakers mentioned.
The 14 Republicans referred to as for elevated investments at residence as a means of reducing costs, fairly than counting on imports.
Smith mentioned in a press release that he “strongly” disagreed with the assertion that purchasing beef from Argentina would “have a significant affect on costs on the retailer.” The committee chairman mentioned that he counseled the Trump administration for attempting to open new market entry for American farmers, however he expressed concern over leniency with international locations that “traditionally maintained excessive tariffs on U.S. beef.” He added that “America First means American beef.”
The lawmakers who signed Wednesday’s letter will not be the primary ones to object to the plan. A bunch of Republicans led by Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., expressed concern over the invoice final week. In a letter to President Donald Trump, Fedorchak and others warned that the plan might hurt America’s multibillion-dollar ranching trade.
President Donald Trump greets Argentinian President Javier Milei as he arrives on the West Wing of the White Home on Oct. 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
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“America’s cattle producers are among the many most resilient and hardworking within the nation,” the Republicans wrote. “Collectively, the cattle trade helps hundreds of jobs throughout our districts and contributes $112 billion to rural economies nationwide.”
The Republicans additionally expressed concern over whether or not imported beef can be held to the identical meals security and animal well being necessities as U.S. beef.
“Any import coverage should maintain international suppliers to those self same rigorous requirements. Introducing beef from international locations with inconsistent security or inspection information might undermine the boldness that U.S. ranchers have labored a long time to earn,” the lawmakers warned.
Final week, throughout an look on CNBC’s “Squawk Field,” Rollins addressed the difficulty of meals security when saying the U.S. was contemplating a plan to import beef from Argentina to extend provide and reduce prices. She mentioned that whereas the imports would up provide, they might not be “very a lot” when in comparison with how a lot is produced within the U.S.
Cattle are proven in pens on the Cattlemen’s Columbus Livestock Public sale in Columbus, Texas, on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
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Moreover, Rollins acknowledged that Argentina was seeing an outbreak of foot-and-mouth illness amongst its cattle, however she mentioned the U.S. Division of Agriculture (USDA) would intently monitor imports to make sure security.
“It is a very nuanced, very advanced market that we’re shifting in each potential doable route to guarantee that we have got a very good future for these ranchers,” Rollins mentioned.
FOX Enterprise reached out to the White Home and the Division of Agriculture for remark.