An agreement was reached late last week by the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives on a legislative package of trade and tax measures including a provision to suspend the tariff on imported wool packs.

The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) has actively supported the temporary suspension of the 7-percent ad valorem tariff on imported nylon wool packs, which are used on the farm to package and transport wool. There are no U.S. companies that make wool packs so the ASI board directed policy to seek cost savings on the purchase price of the packs.

ASI worked with U.S. Reps. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and Bill Thomas
(R-Calif.) on legislation introduced in 2005, which was approved in the U.S.
House this year. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) helped with the recent provision on the Senate side.

"We are pleased this provision made it through the 109th Congress and will represent a cost savings to American sheep producers," commented ASI President Paul Frischknecht. "A large amount of ASI Legislative Council effort went into this project and we are grateful for the congressional leadership we had with this legislation dating back to 2005."

Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33