US sheep producers request tariffs on Australian and New Zealand meat

The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) will continue asking the Trump administration and legislators to include Australian and New Zealand lamb in the tariff plans for food imports.

ASI President Ben Lehfeldt stated that this request is crucial to curb the increase in lamb imports by adding the product to the agricultural and food tariff plan expected to be announced on April 2. This would allow greater participation in the U.S. lamb market and support the future sustainability of the sector in the country.

Lehfeldt and Larry Hopkins, co-chair of ASI’s Legislative Action Council, were on Capitol Hill last month to address the Senate and House Agriculture Committees on behalf of the US sheep industry. They presented the challenging disadvantage facing US lamb producers due to labor and input costs compared to market profitability. ASI is seeking the inclusion of lamb in the administration’s plans to restrict imports.

In 2024, lamb and mutton imports represented 73% of total consumption in the US, with 74% coming from Australia and 25% from New Zealand. Lamb imports reached a record 140,296 metric tons in 2024, according to Eurocarne.