WASHINGTON, D.C. – R-CALF USA, the largest national nonprofit trade association exclusively representing United States cattle and sheep producers, submitted a letter yesterday to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, urging a Section 232 investigation under President Trump’s America First Trade Policy memorandum. The request seeks to examine the impact of lamb and mutton imports on U.S. national security.
The letter underscores the urgent need to prioritize the U.S. sheep industry, which has been severely impacted by decades of flawed trade policies. It highlights that sheep, as a dual-purpose livestock species, provide both protein-rich meat and wool – one of nature’s most versatile textiles. These products are characterized as essential to national security and economic wellbeing.
Family-scale farms and ranches across the United States, particularly in the West, form the backbone of the sheep industry, contributing jobs and stability to rural economies where other agricultural pursuits are less viable. Moreover, sheep grazing plays a vital role in controlling invasive weeds and reducing wildfire risks.
According to the letter, the U.S. sheep industry’s contributions to the economy, environment, infrastructure, and national security are at grave risk due to excessive imports. Over the past few decades, imports have displaced more than 60 percent of domestic sheep farmers, ranchers, and sheep flocks. Today, the U.S. sheep industry faces historic lows, with production steadily declining despite a decade of rising domestic consumption.
Imports now dominate 70 percent of the U.S. lamb and mutton market, leaving the domestic industry teetering on the brink of collapse. The letter reveals that from 2017 to 2022, an average of 2,500 sheep operations exited the industry each year, further eroding vital marketing channels and infrastructure.
R-CALF USA argues that by implementing import relief measures, the United States can revitalize its sheep industry, restoring a robust and competitive food production sector. Such action would not only enhance national security but also fuel economic growth and resilience in rural America.
“We’re certain to lose hundreds if not thousands more independent sheep producers in the near term if we don’t take decisive action today to protect our fast-shrinking sheep industry,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard adding, “We’re hopeful the Trump administration will understand the urgency associated with our request and will soon announce the needed tariffs on imported lamb and mutton we are requesting.”
