The US lamb tariffs – why they were imposed and what action was taken to prevent them

The imposition of tariffs and quotas by the United States on lamb imports into that country in July 1999, was the culmination of strong lobbying and political pressure from an inefficient domestic industry seeking protection. Claims by the US sheep industry that lamb imports – mainly from New Zealand and Australia – are threatening its survival are not realistic. Consumption of lamb in the US has been steadily declining for more than 50 years and the fortunes of its sheep industry have followed suit.