For Immediate Release
Contact: Bill Bullard, CEO, R-CALF USA
Phone: 406-252-2516; r-calfusa@r-calfusa.com
BILLINGS, Mont., June 25, 2026 — Today, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., introduced the Home Market Restoration Act of 2026, legislation that would establish tariff-rate quotas for import-sensitive agricultural products, including lamb, live cattle and beef, as well as shrimp, crawfish, catfish, rice, honey and goat meat.
The United States established very low tariffs on livestock and meat imports in the 1930s and has not adjusted them for inflation since that time. In addition, numerous countries now have tariff-free access to the United States through various free trade agreements, including Australia, Canada and Mexico, which are major beef, lamb or cattle exporters.
For countries not exempted by free trade agreements, the current tariff rate for imported beef has been very low at 4.4 cents per kg, and for imported sheep meat, 0.7 cents per kg. The new legislation would set new tariff rates that would be applicable even to countries that have been exempted under previous free trade agreements.
For lamb and goat meat, the new tariff rate would be $2.76 per kg, the equivalent of $1.25 per pound. In addition, a tariff-rate quota is established for sheep and goat meat to be phased in over 10 years. In year 10, the total quantity of foreign sheep and goat meat allowed into the U.S. under the $1.25-per-pound in-quota rate would be 159 million pounds. For comparison, the U.S. imported approximately 330 million pounds of sheep meat in 2025. If during any year the total quantity of sheep and goat meat entering the U.S. exceeds the applicable quota limit, all additional imports would be subject to a tariff rate of $11.02 per kg, the equivalent of $5 per pound.
The new legislation also increases the tariff rate for beef to $1.68 per kg, the equivalent of 76 cents per pound. This tariff will likewise apply even to countries that have been exempted from all tariffs pursuant to previous free trade agreements. A new tariff-rate quota schedule is set for beef originating from around the world, with differing levels set for certain countries. The total annual quantity of worldwide beef imports eligible for the 76-cent in-quota rate is capped at 471,224,000 kg, the equivalent of about 1 billion pounds. For comparison, the U.S. imported about 2.9 billion pounds of beef on average from 2020 – 2024. While not all imported beef is subject to the U.S. tariff-rate quota system, any imported beef that is subject to the quota that exceeds this quota would be subject to an over-quota tariff rate of $6.55 per kg, the equivalent of $2.97 per pound.
A tariff-rate quota is also established for live cattle imports, with a cap set at 1.5 million head. Within that quota, imported cattle would be subject to a 25% tariff rate, while over-quota imports would be subject to a 50% tariff rate. For comparison, the U.S. imported more than 2 million live cattle in 2024.
In addition, the legislation requires the rates established in the legislation to be adjusted annually for inflation by the President of the United States.
R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard said R-CALF USA applauds Senator Cassidy for introducing what Bullard called a historic and urgently needed reform of our nation’s antiquated tariff-rate schedules and import quotas.
“Current tariffs on lamb and beef and quotas on beef were set decades ago and have proven ineffectual at protecting our cattle and sheep industries from excessive price-depressing imports that have all but destroyed America’s commercial sheep industry and are causing the rapid deterioration of our domestic beef supply chain.
“Today, more than 70% of lamb and 22% of beef consumed in America is sourced from foreign countries. America should not tolerate its growing dependency on foreign countries for our food. This is a threat to national security, and Senator Cassidy’s bill will help America’s cattle and sheep producers rebuild our domestic supply chains for lamb and beef,” he concluded.
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Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) is the largest producer-only lobbying and trade association representing U.S. cattle and sheep producers. It is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle and sheep industries. Visit www.r-calfusa.com or call 406-252-2516 for more information.