in effect
Proclamation 11010, signed February 6, 2026, is a presidential action that temporarily expands the amount of lean beef trimmings that can be imported into the United States at a lower tariff rate. It invokes authority under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, which allows the President to increase import quotas when a natural disaster or major market disruption has made domestic supply inadequate to meet demand at reasonable prices.
For calendar year 2026, the existing tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for certain beef products is increased by 80,000 metric tons of lean beef trimmings, split into four quarterly allotments of 20,000 metric tons each, running from February 13 through December 31, 2026. All 80,000 metric tons of this additional quota is allocated exclusively to Argentina and is filled on a first-come, first-served basis within each quarter. The lower in-quota tariff rate applies to lean beef trimmings under four specific Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes (0201.30.5091, 0201.30.5097, 0202.30.5091, 0202.30.5097); imports above the quota ceiling remain subject to the standard higher tariff. The Secretary of Agriculture is directed to continue monitoring domestic supply and advise the President if further action is needed.
U.S. beef importers and domestic processors who use lean trimmings to blend into ground beef products gain access to a larger volume of lower-tariff imported beef for 2026, which could reduce their input costs. Argentine beef exporters gain the entire additional quota allocation, giving them a competitive advantage over other supplying countries for this specific product. American consumers who buy ground beef are the stated intended beneficiaries, with the proclamation aimed at increasing ground beef supply and moderating retail prices, which reached a recorded high of $6.69 per pound in December 2025.