New Tariff Bill Aims to Protect US Sheep Industry

Legislation introduced to impose 30% tariff on Australian and New Zealand lamb and mutton imports

Mar. 3, 2026 at 8:57pm

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A new bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., and cosponsored by Reps. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, and Burgess Owens, R-Utah, would impose a 30% tariff on sheep and lamb products imported from Australia and New Zealand. The bill is intended to help reverse the alarming contraction of the domestic U.S. sheep industry, which has lost over 63% of its full-time sheep ranchers and 60% of its sheep inventory in recent decades.

Why it matters

The U.S. sheep industry has been struggling to compete with lower-cost imports, mostly from Australia and New Zealand, which have captured 74% of the domestic lamb and mutton market. This has led to the loss of over 12,000 sheep ranchers and 287,000 sheep from 2017 to 2022, threatening the economic viability of rural communities in the West and raising concerns about U.S. food security.

The details

The new tariff legislation is intended to offset the artificial economic advantages that Australian and New Zealand sheep producers gain in the U.S. market due to their weaker currencies and lower production costs associated with weaker environmental and animal welfare standards. The bill is supported by the R-CALF USA Sheep Committee, which had previously submitted a petition to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative seeking an investigation into whether imported lamb and mutton are causing serious injury to the U.S. sheep industry.

  • In late January 2026, Rep. Mark Amodei introduced H.R.7276 in the U.S. House of Representatives.
  • In 2023, the R-CALF USA Sheep Committee initiated the Protect American Lamb project and submitted a petition to the USTR.
  • In 2023, 14 members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to the USTR regarding the alarming contraction of the U.S. sheep industry.

The players

Rep. Mark Amodei

A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada who introduced H.R.7276, the legislation imposing a 30% tariff on sheep and lamb products from Australia and New Zealand.

Rep. Celeste Maloy

A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah who is a cosponsor of H.R.7276.

Rep. Burgess Owens

A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah who is a cosponsor of H.R.7276.

R-CALF USA

A national, non-profit cattle and sheep trade association that represents U.S. cattle and sheep producers on domestic and international trade and marketing issues.

Bill Bullard

The CEO of R-CALF USA, who expressed support for the tariff legislation introduced by Reps. Amodei, Maloy, and Owens.

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What they’re saying

“Representatives Amodei, Maloy and Owens are standing up for America's sheep producers with their legislation that levels the playing field, which has long been tipped in favor of imports. Our domestic sheep industry is incredibly important to the economic viability of rural communities, throughout the West in particular, and without the tariffs included in this bill the West will continue hollowing out and America's food security will remain at risk.”

— Bill Bullard, CEO, R-CALF USA

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to protect the U.S. sheep industry by offsetting the economic advantages enjoyed by Australian and New Zealand producers, which have contributed to the alarming decline of the domestic sheep industry and threatened the economic viability of rural communities in the West.