To impose a 30 percent duty on sheep products and lamb products from Australia or New Zealand.

Bill Number

H.R. 7276

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Foreign Trade and International Finance

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-30: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Last Updated

2026-05-26T15:56:28Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill aims to protect the U.S. domestic sheep and lamb industry by adding a tariff (a tax on imports) on certain products from Australia and New Zealand, two major exporters of these goods.

Key Provisions

• Imposition of Duty: Starting 30 days after the bill becomes law, the President must apply a 30% duty on all sheep products and lamb products originating from Australia or New Zealand. This duty is added to any existing tariffs.
• Definitions:
• Lamb: Meat from sheep, excluding mutton (meat from mature sheep).
• Lamb product: Any item made fully or partially from lamb, including pelts (animal skins).
• Sheep: Ovine animals of any age, such as ewes (female sheep) and rams (male sheep).
• Sheep product: Any item made fully or partially from sheep, including wool and wool-containing products.
• Wool: Fiber from a sheep's fleece.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a new, specific 30% tariff targeted at imports from Australia and New Zealand, which were previously subject only to general trade agreements or lower duties under existing U.S. tariff schedules (like those in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule).
• Shifts authority to the President for immediate implementation, potentially overriding or supplementing broader trade pacts like the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which generally reduces tariffs on agricultural goods.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The U.S. Customs and Border Protection would handle enforcement and collection of the new duties, increasing administrative workload. The President gains direct executive authority in trade enforcement.
• Citizens: U.S. consumers may face higher prices for lamb, mutton, wool products, and related goods due to increased import costs, potentially affecting clothing, food, and textile prices.
• International Relations: Could strain trade ties with Australia and New Zealand, key U.S. allies, by disrupting their exports (valued in billions annually). This might lead to retaliatory tariffs or disputes in international forums like the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Sheep and Lamb Producers: Benefit from reduced competition, potentially boosting domestic sales and prices for farmers in states like Texas, California, and Colorado.
• Importers and Retailers: Face higher costs for sourcing from Australia and New Zealand, possibly shifting to other suppliers or passing costs to consumers.
• Australian and New Zealand Exporters: Major losses for their sheep farming industries, which rely heavily on the U.S. market.
• U.S. Consumers: Indirectly impacted through elevated prices for meat and wool products.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Relies on Congress's constitutional power (Article I, Section 8) to regulate commerce and impose tariffs, delegating implementation to the President, which could face challenges if seen as conflicting with free trade agreements.
• Constitutional: Balances congressional trade authority with executive flexibility, but might invite lawsuits over discrimination against specific countries.
• Political: Signals protectionist trade policy, potentially appealing to agricultural lobbies but risking broader trade war escalation; as an introduced bill (not yet law), it reflects congressional intent amid debates on fair trade versus global partnerships.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-30: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
• 2026-01-30: Introduced in House
• 2026-01-30: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• To impose a 30 percent duty on sheep products and lamb products from Australia or New Zealand. — issued 2026-01-30 — PDF (2 pages)