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Lamb Meat Global Safeguard Investigation, Inv. No. TA-201-80

This investigation:

  • The USITC received a letter dated July 13, 2026, from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for the USITC to conduct an investigation, under section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974 (the “Act”), to determine whether lamb meat is being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury, or the threat thereof, to the domestic industry producing like or directly competitive products.
  • The USITC published a notice of institution [PDF, 5 pages] on July 16, 2026.
    • The investigation was initiated on July 13, 2026, the date that USTR submitted the request.
    • The USITC has determined that this investigation is “extraordinarily complicated,” and will make its serious injury determination by November 13, 2026.
    • The USITC will hold a hearing on serious injury on October 16, 2026.
    • In the event the USITC makes an affirmative serious injury determination or is equally divided on the question of injury in this investigation, it will hold a hearing on the question of remedy on December 1, 2026.
    • The imported articles covered by this investigation are defined as fresh, chilled, or frozen lamb meat. The notice of institution [PDF, 5 pages] provides specific details regarding the scope of the products at issue.
  • The USITC will submit to the President the report required under section 202(f) of the Act within 180 days after the date of the request, or by January 11, 2027.
  • See the notice of institution on our website [PDF, 5 pages] and the Federal Register [PDF, 3 pages] for more information concerning participation in the investigation, appearing at or observing any public hearing, and the filing of written submissions. Updates will also be provided in the Investigations Database System (IDS).

Section 201 investigations in general:

  • The USITC has sole responsibility to conduct this investigation under section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974.
    • If the USITC makes an affirmative serious injury determination, it recommends a remedy to the President.
    • The President makes the final decision on whether to provide a remedy to the U.S. industry, and if so, the nature and duration of the remedy.
    • The remedy is temporary. The initial period of relief cannot be longer than four years, and if extended, the full period of relief cannot exceed eight years in the aggregate.
  • Investigations under this statutory authority sometimes are also referred to as “global safeguard investigations” and “escape clause” investigations.
  • When a petition or request is filed, the USITC must determine whether an article is being imported in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury or the threat of serious injury to a U.S. industry.
  • Global safeguard investigations do not require a finding of an unfair trade practice such as under the U.S. countervailing duty law (a foreign subsidy) or the antidumping duty law.
  • Global safeguard investigations are not country specific. They involve imports of the products under investigation from all sources. However, Commissioners who make affirmative injury determinations are required to make additional separate findings for certain countries with which the U.S. has free trade agreements. These include the USMCA countries (Canada and Mexico), Jordan, Australia, Colombia, Korea, Panama, Peru, Singapore, the CAFTA-DR countries, and Israel.

Process:

  • The statute requires the USITC to complete the injury phase of the investigation within 120 days after the request is received unless it determines, as it has in this proceeding, that the investigation is “extraordinarily complicated,” in which case it may take up to 30 additional days to make its injury determination.
    • If the USITC makes an affirmative serious injury determination, it will then conduct a remedy phase. It holds a public hearing in each phase.
    • If the USITC makes a negative serious injury determination, the proceeding will end and the USITC will not conduct a remedy phase or recommend a remedy.
  • At the conclusion of the remedy phase, the USITC will announce its remedy recommendation(s), along with any separate recommendations by individual Commissioners, and forward its determinations and findings and any remedy recommendations in a report to the President. Only the Commissioners who make affirmative injury determinations will recommend remedy measures to the President.
  • The USITC must send its report to the President within 180 days after the request is submitted.
  • The President makes the final decision on whether to impose a remedy, and if so, the form, amount, and duration of the remedy.
    • In determining what action to take, if any, the President is to consider the USITC’s report, industry efforts to make a positive adjustment to import competition, factors related to the national economic interest of the United States, and certain other statutory factors.

Remedy:

  • The USITC may recommend to the President an increase in a duty, imposition of a quota, imposition of a tariff-rate quota (a two-level tariff, under which goods in excess of a stated quantity are subject to at a higher duty rate), trade adjustment assistance, or any combination of such actions.
  • In addition, the USITC may also recommend that the President initiate international negotiations to address the underlying cause of the increase in imports or that the President take any other action authorized under the law that is likely to facilitate positive adjustment to import competition.
  • Any remedy proclaimed by the President may remain in effect for an initial period of up to four years.