COLLEGE STATION, TX -The U.S. lamb market is experiencing new trade pressures as tariffs and evolving supply factors reshape imports. According to Dr. David Anderson, Professor and Extension Economist at Texas A&M, lamb imports have long been controversial. In 2024, imports from Australia and New Zealand accounted for about 70 percent of U.S. supply, with Australia providing three-quarters of that total. Imports peaked in April 2025 to meet Easter demand, but fell in May and June after the introduction of a 10 percent tariff on Australian and New Zealand lamb.
While the tariff has played a role, Anderson notes that broader market forces may be equally influential. Rising Australian lamb prices, a stronger Australian dollar, and seasonal declines after Easter have all combined to reduce shipments. Domestically, U.S. lamb production is finding modest growth through non-traditional channels, including grazing on solar properties where returns come from land management rather than meat sales.
Looking ahead, questions remain about whether tariffs can provide lasting benefits to domestic producers or whether price adjustments and supply responses could offset any gains. The lamb sector will be closely watched as trade and market forces continue to interact.