
American lamb producers will discuss tariffs on imported lamb with US president Trump’s transition team.
INCREASING lamb imports into the United States and US president Donald Trump’s taste for tariffs has sparked the interest of American sheep producers.
The US producers have put the issue of lamb imports from Australia and New Zealand into the United States on the agenda of their peak body, the American Sheep Industry Association, for the second time in just over 12 months.
ASI executive director Peter Orwick said after ASI’s trade attorney addressed the ASI board at the ASI Annual Convention in Arizona last month “the board asked the topic be placed on the agenda a second time due to intense interest.”
“There was not a resulting vote specific to that topic, but discussions on options continue,” Mr Orwick said.
“International trade concerns will absolutely be included in ASI communications to the new Administration and new Congress.”
How much Aussie and NZ lamb is the US getting?
Meat & Livestock Australia said lamb exports to the US rose 20pc to 80,787 tonnes in 2023-24. MLA’s Monthly US Lamb Market Update on 3 September 2024 said US lamb imports during the four weeks ending August 24 were 6195 metric tonnes, up 11.1pc or 631MT higher than a year ago. The volume of imports from Australia has been relatively stable, mostly around 2000‐2500 MT/week.
Australian lamb shipments to the US market in July were 7943 MT, 31pc higher than a year ago, MLA said. Lamb exports to the US in August were 6973 MT, 11pc higher than last year. Imports from New Zealand during the reference period were 2486 MT, 19pc higher than a year ago.
US lamb producers urge Trump action on tariffs
In the December 2024 issue of the Australian Sheep Industry Association’s monthly newsletter then ASI president Brad Boner wrote that since “President Elect Trump’s resounding win” he has had multiple calls or emails from sheep producers asking because of Trump’s strong stance on tariffs what ASI plans to do about imported lamb.
“With that in mind, I think it is good for us to review how tariffs on steel, aluminium and solar panels – most impacting imports from communist China – were done during the previous Trump administration.”
Mr Boner then detailed ASI’s previous attempts to restrict lamb imports the US, including with the former United States secretary of agriculture Sonny Perdue was not supportive and on his very last day in office in 2021 approved lamb imports from the United Kingdom.
“This decision came despite ASI successfully blocking it since 2009.”
Mr Boner said the trade restrictions announced during the first term of President Trump all followed trade cases and eight- to nine-month investigations.
“I share a reminder that ASI had two preliminary investigations on Australian and New Zealand lamb, with the 2018 and 2020 efforts looking for trade violations.
“ASI hired a leading law firm specializing in trade again in 2023 and conducted another investigation,” he wrote.
“We found that we might be able to prove harm, that there were no countervailing violations and the dumping margins that were seen were very small (1 to 3 percent).”
However, Mr Boner said a recent research project completed at the University of Idaho found that in order for the American sheep industry to just maintain its market share, it would need a 21 percent tariff on lamb imports.
“In addition, there is always the lingering question of the political resolve and geopolitical consequences of a trade war with countries who are considered our allies.
“By the tone of the last paragraph, you might be thinking that ASI has given up on any chance of a trade case on imported lamb.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he wrote.
“Year-to-date in 2024, lamb imports are up a whopping 38 percent! This is a staggering number by anybody’s measure.”
Mr Boner said federal officials will look at the data from the most recent three years as they consider any trade action.
“In 2023, lamb imports were down a moderate amount (19 percent is the number in my head).
“With the big jump in 2024, ASI will be bringing this to the attention of the Trump transition team along with other topics important to our industry,” Mr Boner said.
“ASI and its legal counsel continue to monitor and assess the lamb import data as it becomes available.”
See Sheep Central’s previous article Peak US sheep body decides against action on lamb imports.
US president Trump recently threatened 25pc tariffs on Mexican and Canadian product imports, but this week agreed to a 30-day pause in return for concessions on border and crime enforcement. However, the Trump presidency has persisted with a 10pc additional tariff on imports from China.
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