Heinrich, Luján Lead Call for Trump Administration to Reverse Course on Favoring Beef from Argentina

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M) led a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer calling out the Trump Administration's harmful plan to increase beef imports from Argentina, which will help foreign interests at the expense of New Mexico cattle producers.

While cattle is among the top cash commodities for New Mexico agriculture, generating roughly $1.7 billion for the state per year, the cattle herd in New Mexico has reached historic lows. This is due to a combination of factors, including President Trump's tariffs, the inflation crisis, rampant market consolidation, years of drought, and the impact of the New World Screwworm - halting cattle trade with Mexico. This reduced domestic supply combined with high consumer demand have pushed beef prices to historic highs under the Trump Administration. The solution is to support American agriculture and level the playing field for American producers, not favor foreign interests over American cattle producers.

"We write in strong opposition to the Administration's undeveloped plan to increase imports of Argentinian beef," the senators wrote to Ambassador Greer. "This announcement has already had tangible market impacts felt by cattle producers across the country, at a time when cattle producers are looking for long-term stability to rebuild their herds. Rather than reward Argentina's president and agricultural producers, we encourage you to focus on policies that support American farmers and ranchers and that bring down costs for all Americans."

To meaningfully lower prices for working families, the senators called on the Trump Administration to end the chaotic, across-the-board tariffs that are driving market instability and increasing costs.

"In addition, we are concerned that this plan could also introduce serious animal health threats that further cripple U.S. cattle production at a time of low cattle supply…" the senators continued. "These animal health threats would pose severe risks to U.S. livestock production, disrupt domestic and international trade, and have far-reaching economic consequences across rural communities and the agricultural supply chain."

"Instead of introducing additional volatility into the market, we urge you to implement a trade policy that uses targeted tariffs and other tools to ensure U.S. producers can fairly compete in the global marketplace while also ensuring Americans have access to healthy, affordable foods," the senators concluded.

The letter is led by Heinrich, Cortez Masto, Klobuchar. Alongside Luján, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

Last week, Heinrich cosponsored the No Argentina Bailout Act, legislation to prohibit the president from using American taxpayer dollars to bail out Argentina's financial markets.

In March 2024, as Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee for the United States Congress, Heinrich also published a report about market consolidation and corporate greed driving up prices of food, particularly beef. In it, he highlighted how just four firms controlled 55-85% of the market for poultry, pork, and beef, giving those firms significant power over both the prices consumers pay and the prices American ranchers receive for their products. The solution is to support American agriculture and level the playing field for American producers, not favor foreign interests over American cattle producers.

In February 2025, Heinrich and Luján introduced the American Beef Labeling Act, which would reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling for beef and improve market transparency and ensure fair competition for American ranchers.

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