Committee member warns lifting beef tariffs could harm ranchers

A committee member warned that proposals to lift tariffs on beef imports could harm local ranchers, saying the measure "could be" harmful and that farmers are already worried about high domestic prices. The exchange opened when a questioner raised the tariff issue directly: "Lifting tariffs on the beef imports," followed by, "Could that be harmful for ranchers and farmers?" The committee member replied, "I think it could be," and said they were "a little alarmed about the beef coming in from Argentina."

The committee member described on-the-ground concerns from producers: "My farmers are worried about that. They're also worried about the the high price of beef right now. We're gonna deplete our herd." That testimony framed two linked worries — short-term price pressure and a longer-term risk that producers could reduce herd sizes, increasing reliance on imports. The speaker also asked whether safeguards are in place for imports and identified the origin as Argentina. The exchange stayed at the level of concern and questioning; no formal motion, vote, or policy direction appears in the transcript segment provided.