Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins discusses the struggle over authorities spending on ‘The Night Edit.’
Greater than a dozen Republican lawmakers pushed again towards the Trump administration’s plan to develop beef imports from Argentina, saying that whereas the plan goals to ease the stress on People’ wallets, it hurts U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers.
“Whereas we share the Administration’s purpose of reducing prices for customers, we’re involved that granting extra market entry to Argentina — already certainly 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 by way of Getty Photos / Getty Photos)
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 better entry to nations that keep obstacles towards U.S. beef or have beforehand struggled to take care of animal well being transparency dangers disrupting markets and miserable cattle costs with out delivering measurable advantages to customers,” the lawmakers stated.
The 14 Republicans known as for elevated investments at dwelling as a method of reducing costs, slightly than counting on imports.
Smith stated 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 stated that he counseled the Trump administration for attempting to open new market entry for American farmers, however he expressed concern over leniency with nations that “traditionally maintained excessive tariffs on U.S. beef.” He added that “America First means American beef.”
The lawmakers who signed Wednesday’s letter usually are not 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 business.
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 Photos / Getty Photos)
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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 business 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 nations with inconsistent security or inspection information might undermine the arrogance 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 stated 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 Photos / Getty Photos)
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Moreover, Rollins acknowledged that Argentina was seeing an outbreak of foot-and-mouth illness amongst its cattle, however she stated the U.S. Division of Agriculture (USDA) would carefully monitor imports to make sure security.
“This can be a very nuanced, very advanced market that we’re shifting in each potential potential route to ensure that we have a very good future for these ranchers,” Rollins stated.
FOX Enterprise reached out to the White Home and the Division of Agriculture for remark.
