Sharice Davids 'pissed' over possible Argentine beef imports

Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, says she was "pretty pissed" when she saw the United States may import Argentinian beef amid rising costs in the United States.

On Oct. 20, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association responded to President Donald Trump's comments suggesting the United States may respond to rising beef prices by importing more Argentinian beef.

NCBA CEO Colin Woodall said the plan "creates chaos at a critical time of the year for American cattle producers, while doing nothing to lower grocery store prices."

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, joins several Kansas lawmakers wary of importing Argentinian beef.

He also raised concern about Argentinian beef spreading diseases into American cattle and trade imbalances with the country, which exported $801 million of beef into the U.S. while only buying $7 million of beef from American producers.

"I was pretty pissed when I saw that," Davids said in a virtual press conference on Oct. 22. "Because we should be doing everything we can to support our American producers, our folks who are really producing some top-notch beef globally."

Rep. Derek Schmidt, R-Kansas, has also raised concerns about the possible importation of Argentinian beef. He was among eight House Republicans who wrote a letter to Trump requesting more information and urging a decision be made with "full transparency, sound science and a firm commitment to the U.S. cattle industry.

“While we recognize the importance of strong trade relationships and diverse markets, our producers are seeking clarity on how this decision will be made, what safety and inspection standards will apply, and how this policy aligns with your administration’s commitment to strengthening American agriculture,” said Schmidt, with seven other signatories.

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, and Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kansas, told WIBW that they want to let the market work, rather than intervene on behalf of one country.

Trump defended his agricultural policies on Oct. 22, saying tariffs have bolstered the American cattle industry.

"The Cattle Ranchers, who I love, don’t understand that the only reason they are doing so well, for the first time in decades, is because I put Tariffs on cattle coming into the United States, including a 50% Tariff on Brazil," Trump posted on his social media website Truth Social. "If it weren’t for me, they would be doing just as they’ve done for the past 20 years — Terrible! It would be nice if they would understand that, but they also have to get their prices down, because the consumer is a very big factor in my thinking, also!"

U.S. aid to Argentina
Argentina has become a sore spot for some farmers. The American Soybean Association president Caleb Ragland issued a statement after the United States negotiated a $20 billion swap line, where two central banks exchange currencies, as Argentina encroached on the Chinese market, America's biggest soybean export market.

The swap line is effectively a loan to stabilize the Argentinian peso, which hit an all-time low value on Oct. 20.

"The U.S. has made zero sales to China in this new crop marketing year due to 20% retaliatory tariffs imposed by China in response to U.S. tariffs," Ragland said in a Sept. 24 statement. "U.S. soybean prices are falling, harvest is underway, and farmers read headlines not about securing a trade agreement with China, but that the U.S. government is extending $20 billion in economic support to Argentina while that country drops its soybean export taxes to sell 20 shiploads of Argentine soybeans to China in just two days."

Adam Phelon, a Kansas Soybean Association board member who joined Davids press call, said the lack of sales from soybeans and the beef market can campound for many agricultural producers.

"What the people in Washington, D.C., need to know and realize that a lot of us soybean farmers are also cattle producers. And in tough times like we're in on the crop side, it's the cattle side that's helping us get through this difficult time," Phelon said.

The United States is also working on an additional $20 billion to the Latin American country, financed via sovereign wealth funds and private banks.