Three senators have urged the International Trade Commission to impose temporary tariffs on lamb imports from Australia and New Zealand at the ITC's meeting today.  The American Sheep Industry Association petitioned ITC on what it considered harmful effects of lamb imports on the U.S. sheep industry.

The petition triggered a six-month investigation that resulted in a unanimous ITC ruling that lamb imports from Australia and New Zealand have damaged domestic sheep producers.

Sens. Conrad Burns (R-MT), Larry Craig (R_ID) and Craig Thomas (R-WY) signed the letter to the ITC.  "International trade disparities are crippling agricultural producers across the nation and must be abolished," they said.

According to the ASI, declining lamb prices can be traded directly to imports that have doubled over the last five years.

Any program recommended by the ITC would give the president 60 days to implement a relief program.