By Juan Vassallo
A shrinking U.S. cattle herd, driven in part by persistent drought and the New World screwworm, has forced the industry to rely more heavily on imported beef to keep up with strong demand.
It’s a trend that’s been building for the past three years. The latest USDA projections show beef imports continuing to rise and exports decline through 2027.
The U.S. will import 6.059 billion pounds of beef by the end of this year, up 12.5% from last year, according to projections.
The increase in imports has angered one of Trump’s most reliable political constituencies: ranchers.
When the Trump administration announced in October 2025 that it will increase beef imports from Argentina — a country whose president, Javier Milei, is an ally of President Trump — rancher groups, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America, criticized the decision.
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