LOS ANGELES, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. cattle producers have voiced strong opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion to import beef from Argentina.
Trump told reporters Sunday that the United States could "buy some beef from Argentina," adding the move "will bring our beef prices down" and "help Argentina, which we consider a very good country, a very good ally."
In a press release issued Monday, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) warned that such imports would harm domestic cattle producers and interfere with free-market principles.
The NCBA's family farmers and ranchers have numerous concerns with importing more Argentinian beef to lower prices for consumers, said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. "This plan only creates chaos at a critical time of the year for American cattle producers, while doing nothing to lower grocery store prices."
Woodall pointed out that the trade relationship between the two countries is heavily imbalanced, noting that in the past five years, Argentina has sold more than 801 million U.S. dollars of beef into the U.S. market, while the U.S. has sold just over 7 million U.S. dollars worth of American beef to Argentina.
"We call on President Trump and members of Congress to let the market work, rather than intervening in ways that do nothing but harm rural America," the NCBA said.
Republican Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska, also a cattle rancher, echoed by warning the proposal would damage U.S. cattle producers and fail to lower consumer prices.
In a post on her X page Tuesday, she said: "If the goal is addressing beef prices at the grocery store, this isn't the way."
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price for ground beef in the United States reached a record high of 6.32 U.S. dollars per pound in August this year, 51 percent higher than in February 2020.
Local media reported that rising beef prices have been driven by a shrinking U.S. cattle herd due to drought, higher feed costs and trade disruptions. Some reports also suggested that Trump is seeking to support Argentina's economy and its president, Javier Milei, by increasing beef imports.
Trump's proposal came as he finalized a 20-billion-U.S.-dollar currency swap arrangement with Argentina, a move that has angered many U.S. farmers who view the South American country as a direct competitor in global agricultural markets. ■