US sheep farmers call for tariffs on NZ sheep meat imports
Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor has expressed concern over a bid by United States sheep farmers to impose tariffs on New Zealand sheep meat exports.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson echoed O’Connor’s concerns and said the ministry approached the relevant US agencies and would take further opportunities to “robustly relay that such complaints are not warranted”.
The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-Calf), representing livestock farmers, petitioned the US’s principal trade adviser to protect sheep farmers and increase tariffs on New Zealand lamb imports.
The group said in a press release that 74% of lamb and mutton consumed in the US was imported and that domestic production was down 60%.
“The United States imported approximately 23,723 metric tonnes from these countries in 1993. By 2022, imports had increased 543%, to 152,646 metric tons. To put this in perspective, the quantity of lamb and mutton imports in 2022 was roughly the equivalent of importing 4.5 million live lambs.”
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