990555 USDA Mulling Lamb Meat Purchases

St. Louis, MO - The U.S. Agriculture Department is considering purchasing lamb meat to help boost prices for domestic producers, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said.

But Glickman declined to say whether the Clinton administration would restrict lamb imports from Australia and New Zealand, as the U.S. industry has requested. “The president has to decide that,” he told reporters after a speech to the World Agricultural Forum.

Earlier this year, the U.S. International Trade Commission determined that low-priced imports from Australia and New Zealand threatened to harm the domestic industry.

Because of that ruling, President Bill Clinton has until June 4 to decide whether to curb lamb imports. Australia and New Zealand supply virtually all of U.S. lamb imports.

U.S. lamb producers have asked for a two-tiered tariff-rate quota to restrict imports and boost domestic prices.

But last week, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer said any U.S. restriction would be unjustified because both Australia and New Zealand are free traders in lamb.

The Agriculture Department can buy lamb for its domestic feeding programs if it determines there is a surplus.

Department analysts are looking at that issue now, an aide to Glickman said.

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