A group of 68 US lawmakers signed a letter calling for measures to protect domestic sheepmeat producers, more than twice the number that supported a similar initiative late last year, Farmers Weekly reported.
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) will hold a hearing to determine whether sheepmeat imports are causing or threatening to cause serious injury to domestic production. Australia and New Zealand account for 99% of US imports.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chair Kate Acland will participate in the hearing in Washington to argue that imports complement US supplies and help meet demand that domestic production is unable to satisfy.
If the ITC determines that injury exists, it could recommend safeguard measures, with any eventual implementation left to the US administration.
