Meat industry sees opportunity in new US quota

The national industry positively evaluates the US decision to increase the import quota for lean beef with a reduced tariff, made official by President Donald Trump (Republican Party) on Wednesday (26.Aug.2026). The measure, which comes into effect on September 1st, could be an opportunity for Brazilian protein, say associations that represent slaughterhouses and exporters in the sector.

By White House decree, the U.S. will increase the volume of lean meat that will enter the country by 300 thousand tons with reduced tax for the next 90 days. There will be 100 thousand tons per month, until November 30th. The measure also requires that products be sold on the North American market at prices 25% lower than those currently charged.

A Abiec (Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries) states that the initiative could represent an opportunity for the Brazilian sector, although Brazil is not the only country that could benefit from the expansion. The association also views the US demand for lower prices with caution, “which limits immediate margin gains for the industry”.

Exporters assess that the new space in the USA should not replace the volume of meat that is no longer going to China due to the exhaustion of tariff-free import quota imposed by Asians. According to Abiec, Chinese and North Americans demand products with different characteristics and profiles.

“These are complementary markets within the strategy of diversifying Brazilian exports”says the association. In addition to the differences between products, the new US quota only applies to so-called lean meats, or lean beef trimmingsused in the production of ground beef and in the preparation of hamburgers.

A Abrafrigo (Brazilian Meatpackers Association) received the Trump administration’s decision with more optimism. According to the association, the measure comes in “a particularly important moment for the Brazilian sector”. Unlike Abiec, it evaluates the new quota as a viable alternative to Chinese restrictions.

“It could contribute to mitigating the effects of the exhaustion of the export quota to China, opening an additional alternative for Brazilian beef in the North American market precisely in a period of greater pressure on international trade”said the president of the association, Paulo Mustefaga.

Despite the positive reception, Abrafrigo said that Pará, Acre and Maranhão will not be able to take advantage of the measure as they are not yet qualified to export beef to the USA.

The entity demanded that the sector continue to advance in the qualification of export plants in new States, so that the opportunities created by foreign trade can reach the largest possible number of producers and companies.