WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is currently investigating the lamb import market and is now requesting information from the country’s sheep industry on how imported lamb is affecting domestic producers.
The request follows pressure from the American Sheep Industry Association (ASIA), which called for a formal investigation into whether trade measures are needed. The group says imports from Australia and New Zealand have cut into the U.S. market share.
If USTR does not take further action, industry leaders say, they may petition the International Trade Commission (USITC) for a Section 201 Safeguard Investigation.
Under Section 201, domestic industries that are seriously injured or at risk of serious injury due to increased imports can petition the USITC for import relief. The USITC assesses whether an imported article is brought into the U.S. in such increased quantities that it significantly causes, or threatens to cause, serious harm to the U.S. industry producing a similar or directly competing product.
If the Commission makes a positive finding, it recommends relief measures to the President to prevent or address the injury and help the industry adjust to import competition. The President then makes the final decision on whether to grant relief and determines the amount.
However, the Association’s executive director said a direct request from the USTR would carry greater significance than this alternative approach.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today unveiled a bold plan to protect the nation’s prime farm and ranchland from the rapid spread of data centers.
January 13, 2026 03:36 PM
Secretary Rollins also met with specialty crop producers at a local strawberry farm to discuss workforce needs and the Trump Administration’s recent wins related to significantly cutting the cost of H-2A labor for California farmers.
January 13, 2026 03:25 PM
·
China’s beef policy risk stems from domestic volatility, making export demand inherently unstable. Jake Charleston with Specialty Risk Insurance offers his perspective on cattle markets, risk management, and producer sentiment.
January 13, 2026 02:13 PM
·
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said permanent access to the higher ethanol blend would provide farmers with much-needed certainty while supporting domestic crop demand.
January 13, 2026 01:31 PM
·
Structural efficiency supports cattle prices and resilience — breaking it risks higher costs and greater volatility.
January 13, 2026 08:00 AM
·
Rising adoption of GLP-1 drugs may gradually reshape food demand, with potential downstream effects on protein markets and consumer purchasing patterns.
January 12, 2026 02:38 PM
·
Leadership development and bipartisan engagement remain central to advancing agriculture’s priorities in 2026.
January 12, 2026 11:40 AM
·
How the Public Trust Doctrine Threatens Agricultural Property Rights
January 10, 2026 07:00 PM
·
Reducing mental stress and focusing on controllable actions can improve decision-making in high-pressure environments, according to Hollywood actor and former Calif Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
January 09, 2026 03:59 PM
·
