Despite opposition from Republicans and allies within the agricultural sector, former President Donald Trump has reached a new agreement to increase beef imports from Argentina.

In a statement, Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the agreement has been signed and will “expand preferential access for Argentine beef to the U.S. market in an unprecedented manner, increasing volumes by 100,000 metric tons.”

The ministry added that the deal will ensure that by 2026, an additional 80,000 metric tons of Argentine beef will enter the U.S. market, on top of the 20,000 metric tons already approved for export. This expansion is expected to raise Argentina’s beef exports to the United States by US$800 million.

The Foreign Ministry also noted that the U.S. government “reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining tariffs on aluminum and steel.”

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Hill’s partner outlet NewsNation:

“President Trump promised to sign fairer trade agreements while supporting America’s agricultural industry. That promise has been kept.”

In November, the Trump administration announced that it had reached a framework for trade agreements with Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala.

The agreement represents a significant victory for Argentine President Javier Milei, who is widely regarded as one of Trump’s closest allies in Latin America.

“As you can see, we are firmly committed to making Argentina great again,” Milei said following the release of the framework last year.

While the deal is seen as a major win for Argentina, Republican lawmakers have voiced strong opposition to expanding Argentine beef imports, citing potential negative impacts on the U.S. agricultural industry.

In October, more than a dozen Republican members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, expressing concerns over the Trump administration’s plan to increase beef imports.

The proposal also drew intense backlash at the time from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as well as bipartisan lawmakers, particularly from states with large cattle inventories.