US-Australia-New Zealand sheep trade dispute

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

Officials and exporters from New Zealand and Australia 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 fulfills specific market demands—such as grass-fed, antibiotic-free, and smaller cut sizes—that are currently underserved by domestic production. Experts suggested the decline in US production may stem from a shift in consumer demand toward lighter lambs, whereas domestic producers have traditionally focused on the heavy-lamb segment. The USITC is reviewing whether the imports meet the legal threshold for safeguard measures.