An injury hearing is scheduled for October 16 to hear testimony from American sheep producers, processors, and international exporters

DENVER, CO – Domestic sheep and lamb producers continue in their fight to slow down lamb meat imports that now represent 70% to 75% of the total U.S. lamb and mutton market supply, meaning domestic production makes up the remaining 25% to 30%.

The United States established very low tariffs on livestock and meat imports in the 1930s and has not adjusted them for inflation since that time. In addition, numerous countries now have tariff-free access to the United States through various free trade agreements, including Australia, Canada and Mexico, which are major beef, lamb or cattle exporters.

America’s sheep ranchers and farmers have faced mounting pressures from rapidly increasing imports, which negatively impact rural communities and domestic food production. The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), with legal counsel Kelley Drye and Warren LLP and economists at Georgetown Economic Services LLC, collected market data, import trend analysis, and documented financial injury on domestic producers in support of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) global safeguard investigation request that was granted on July 13, 2026.

Import statistics indicate that lamb meat imports have increased in recent years and comprise more than 70% of the lamb available to American consumers resulting in lost sales, revenues, and market share as imported lamb meat significantly undersold the domestic product.

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT) recently submitted a letter to the USITC in support of an affirmative determination in the global safeguard investigation into imports of lamb meat under Sections 201 and 202 of the Trade Act of 1974.

On October 6, 2026, 68 bicameral members of congress signed on to the USITC letter in support of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) and American lamb growers and processors.

The letter stated, “During this investigation, we urge the Commission to carefully consider the data and testimony before it regarding the significant challenges faced by American sheep producers. And should the Commission make an affirmative determination in accordance with the statute, we urge the Commission to recommend a remedy that provides prompt and meaningful relief to the domestic industry.”

“On behalf of the hardworking farm and ranch families we represent, I want to express our sincere gratitude to these Members of Congress for standing up for American sheep producers,” said Mike Michener, ASI Executive Director. “By urging the U.S. International Trade Commission to closely examine the data and recommend swift, meaningful relief through this Section 201 investigation, these lawmakers are fighting to level the playing field. Their support is vital to preserving domestic supply chains and protecting the future of American lamb.”

This effort follows ASI’s request for a safeguard petition, filed with USTR on October 30, 2025, and the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) request for the USITC to initiate a global safeguard investigation into imports of lamb meat on July 13, 2026. USITC has an injury hearing scheduled for October 16 to hear testimony from American processors, international exporters, and American sheep producers. ASI will be in attendance on behalf of its 42 state associations and more than 100,000 U.S. sheep farms and ranches.

The following Members of Congress signed on in bipartisan and bicameral support of the letter:

House (45)

Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV), Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX), Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN), Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR), Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA), Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), Rep. John Carter (R-TX), Rep. James Comer (R-KY), Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), Rep. Jeff Crank (R-CO), Rep. Don Davis (D-NC), Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT), Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO), Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN), Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA), Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Rep. James Gallagher (R-CA), Rep. Adam Gray (D-CA), Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI)

Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO), Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT), Lead, Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS), Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC), Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), Rep. Dave Taylor (R-OH), Rep. David Valadao (R-CA), Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT)

Senate (23)

Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN), Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), Sen. John Curtis (R-UT), Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), Lead, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)

Producers and industry supporters can follow the case and contribute to ASI’s ongoing advocacy at sheepusa.org/issues/asi-trade-case.