Appearing before the US International Trade Commission, Ambassador Moriarty said imports from Australia had filled a supply gap created by the drop in US production, rather than being a substantial cause of it.
“Imports have filled the supply gap created by this decline in domestic production. They are a consequence of reduced US output, not a substantial cause of it,” he told the inquiry.
He warned that any restrictions on lamb imports would hurt US consumers.
“Any action to restrict lamb meat imports would only increase costs for US consumers, reduce product availability and risk reversing the steady growth in US demand for lamb to the detriment of the US industry,” Moriarty said.
Moriarty also argued that Australian lamb exports have helped develop the US sheep industry through genetics partnerships, technology transfer and pest research, contributing to flock productivity.
Meat has been a flashpoint in US-Australia trade relations previously. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Australian beef imports earlier this year before removing them to combat high consumer prices. The current inquiry is examining whether Australian lamb imports are injuring the domestic US industry, which some producers have described as being in crisis.