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🇦🇷 Argentina /Economy & Trade

Trump’s praise for Argentine beef exposed a curious mix-up

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Donald Trump said Argentina would be among the sources of 300,000 tonnes of tariff-free ground beef entering the United States for 90 days.
  • Argentine government and private-sector sources said the measure still excludes Argentina, which already has a 100,000-tonne quota, along with Australia and New Zealand.
  • Brazil could benefit from the arrangement, which aims to contain U.S. beef prices after a sharp decline in cattle inventories.

Donald Trump’s comments about Argentine beef at the White House created immediate confusion. Asked where the ground beef covered by a 300,000-tonne tariff-free quota would come from, Trump named Argentina, Brazil and several other countries.

He first said the beef would come from “different places.” Pressed for specifics, he replied, “It comes from Argentina, it comes from Brazil, it comes from a couple of other places.” He praised the beef from those countries as “very clean” and “very good.”

It comes from Argentina, it comes from Brazil, it comes from a couple of other places.

· Donald TrumpThe U.S. president answered a question about the origin of beef covered by the tariff-free quota.

The comments appeared to contradict the terms of the measure. The United States announced weeks ago that it would import 300,000 tonnes of ground beef without tariffs for 90 days, seeking to contain rising prices after a sharp fall in the country’s cattle inventory. Argentina initially appeared likely to participate, but that expectation changed when officials learned that countries with existing quotas would be excluded.

Argentina already has a quota of 100,000 tonnes. Australia, Uruguay and New Zealand also hold quotas and were likewise excluded from the new benefit. Brazil, which does not face the same restriction in the article’s account, could take advantage of the opportunity.

It could be other countries. But right now it’s mainly Argentina, Brazil, although it could be other countries.

· Donald TrumpTrump discussed possible suppliers and the limited scale of the imports.

Trump also criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, blaming him for the decline in U.S. cattle numbers. He said American ranchers wanted to increase their herds and lower prices. When asked again whether Argentina and Brazil were the only suppliers, Trump said, “It could be other countries. But right now it’s mainly Argentina, Brazil, although it could be other countries.” He added that imports would remain limited because U.S. ranchers could not handle everything.

The remarks prompted questions about whether Argentina’s position had changed. LA NACION was told by private-sector and government sources that nothing had changed. “The 300,000 tonnes exclude countries that have quotas, such as Argentina, Australia and New Zealand,” they said.

The 300,000 tonnes exclude countries that have quotas, such as Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.

· Private-sector and government sourcesSources told LA NACION that Argentina remained excluded from the new tariff-free quota.
About this summary

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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