US sheep industry seeks trade protections against lamb imports

US sheep producers, processors, and lotfeeders have presented arguments to the US International Trade Commission (USITC) seeking protective market measures against lamb imports. Industry representatives argue that increased imports from Australia and New Zealand have caused serious injury to the domestic supply chain, noting that US-grown lamb market share has dropped from 75% to less than 25% over recent decades.

In response, New Zealand and Australian officials and exporters have contested these claims. New Zealand’s ambassador to the US, Chris Seed, testified that lamb imports have remained steady at 13-15% of US consumption for two decades. Exporters argue that international supply meets specific market demands, such as smaller cut sizes, antibiotic-free, and grass-fed requirements, which are currently underserved by domestic production.

Industry experts also suggested that the decline in US production may be linked to shifts in consumer demand toward lighter lambs, whereas domestic producers have traditionally focused on the heavy-lamb segment. The USITC is currently reviewing whether the imports meet the legal threshold for safeguard measures.