INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Farmers are uneasy over President Donald Trump’s comments to import beef from Argentina.

Trump said he’s concerned about consumer beef prices, and Argentinian beef could help.

But Indiana Beef Cattle Association members are pushing back. They says more imports of Argentenian beef could make it harder for American farmers to make a living.

Brian Shuter, executive vice president of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association, called it supply and demand. Add more meat to the supply, and cattle farmers can’t sell at competitive rates. It will undercut them.
He said Trump’s comment has caused futures prices for cattle to fluctuate. “That just shows (Trump’s) comments like this may have an undo effect on our industry.”

While beef prices have been increasing for consumers, Americans have been willing to pay higher prices.
The national average price is $6.31 a pound, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Trump said farmers have been hurting for decades. “They’re great people. But they’ve been hurt for 25, 30 years, they’ve been losing because other countries have taken advantage of them. And by putting tariffs on, they’ve been able to make a few dollars, they’ve been able to have an industry. But, I also want to keep the beef prices low.”

Instead of relying on Argentinian beef, Shuter prefers to have the market work itself out. “Some of these comments tend to have negative effects on the business. Today’s Indiana cattleman supports free and fair trade. Let the market work the way it should.”

Only 2% of U.S. beef comes from Argentina. A new deal could quadruple their import. Shuter says there’s already a trade imbalance. He says the U.S. already imports $801 million worth of beef from Argentina, but Argentina only buys $7 million of American beef. “We import more Argentinian beef than what we export to Argentina.”

Shooter worries about the quality of beef imports from overseas, and the foot and mouth disease that cattle can get. He said American beef standards are higher. “We want to make sure we don’t inadvertently import something like that that could jeopardize our beef industry.”

This isn’t just an Indiana issue. Farmers across the country are alarmed.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President says Trump’s comments are misguided.

As for beef prices lowering, an economist told News 8 that Argentinian beef imports won’t be enough to change the consumer prices anyway.