[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5773-S5774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A TIME TO RESPOND: AMERICAN LAMB INDUSTRY THREATENED BY IMPORT SURGES

 Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to speak to the 
surging wave of cheap, imported lamb meat that threatens to drown the 
United States lamb industry, an industry that has been part of our 
nation's economy since independence.
  This surge of imports, primarily from the nations of Australia and 
New Zealand, can be seen in the numbers collected by our federal 
inspectors.
  In 1993, just 56 million pounds of lamb meat entered this country and 
its markets.
  By 1997, that figure had risen to 84.4 million pounds--a shocking 
increase of nearly 50 percent.
  Those figures have been converted to carcass-weight equivalents, and 
are higher than those collected by the U.S. Commerce Department. But 
that department's information shows no indication that the surge is 
slowing. In 1998, a record 70.2 million pounds--by volume--of lamb meat 
entered the domestic market.
  Not only has the level of imports increased, but the lamb meat 
flooding the domestic market is directly competitive with products 
produced by this nation's lamb industry.
  In place of lamb carcasses, shipments of fresh, chilled meat--cut and 
processed and ready for the grocery store shelves--are displacing 
domestically produced meat across the country.
  At this point, importers control one-third of the United States lamb 
consumption, a market share that makes it difficult, if not impossible, 
for our producers to control their own destinies.
  The importers do not participate in voluntary price reporting. In 
fact, they have actively fought a joint lamb promotion program through 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  Despite ample notice of the effect their skyrocketing levels of 
imports have had on the domestic industry, and despite ample notice 
that the industry intended to file a case against them, the importers 
refused to pull back voluntarily, or even discuss the situation.

[[Page S5774]]

  The lamb industry's case now rests with the President. I call on this 
Administration to follow through with the strong and effective relief 
this industry needs to regain its footing and confidence. With 
confidence will come investment, and with investment, will come a more 
competitive industry.

                          ____________________