美国生羊和羊肉产业贸易状况.DOCVIP

U.S. TRADE Overview Tables B-8 and B-9 show the U.S. trade balances for live sheep and lambs and sheep meat, respectively. The United States is by far a net importer of sheep meat, posting a negative trade balance in every year during 1997-2001 (table B-9). The deficit increased from $132 million in 1997 to $224 million in 2001. As stated earlier, the U.S. sheep industry has been in a long-term decline; hence, U.S. lamb meat production is small and shows no signs of increasing significantly. The United States had a positive trade balance for live sheep and lambs during 1997-2001 (table B-8). However, the balance declined from $53 million in 1997 to $11 million in 2001, primarily due to a reduction in live sheep exports to Mexico. 54 Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency, Ontario Sheep News - Market Update, OSN Market Report: May-June 2002, found at /osnmarke.html, retrieved Nov. 5, 2002. 55 Carcass weight equivalent, unless otherwise noted. 17 U.S. Imports Live Sheep and Lambs U.S. imports of live sheep and lambs are small and accounted for 2 percent or less of U.S. consumption of sheep during 1997-2001 (table B-7). Canada supplied virtually all such imports with imports averaging about 49,000 animals annually during 1997-2000 (table B-10). U.S. live sheep and lamb imports rose to 85,000 animals in 2001 reflecting the decrease in sheep numbers in the United States combined with a depreciated Canadian dollar.54 Such imports consisted primarily of lambs for slaughter. Lamb Meat and Mutton Imports Australia and New Zealand supply virtually all U.S. imports of lamb meat. The share of lamb meat imports, by quantity, supplied by Australia rose steadily from 55 percent in 1997 and 1998 to 63 percent in 2001. The share of imports supplied by New Zealand peaked in 1998 at 45 percent before declining steadily to 37 percent in 2001. Australia supplied virtually all U.S. mutton imports during 1997-2001. Import Levels and Trends Total U.S. sheep meat imports rose from 83 million pounds