The United States Trade Representative‘s office is holding public hearings this week on proposed actions in the Section 301 investigation of China’s targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance that would result in new fees being imposed on Chinese vessels. The first hearing was held on Monday, March 24 and the second will be on Wednesday, March …
Ethanol Exports Start Strong in 2025
Coming off a record-breaking 2024, U.S. ethanol exports kicked off 2025 with momentum, according to the latest trade monitor report from the Renewable Fuels Association. Ethanol exports increased two percent in January to reach a nine-month high of 198.1 million gallons (mg), fueled by surging shipments to India, which tripled its imports to 35.1 mg, the highest in four years. …
Trump Talks Ethanol With Japan
President Trump wants to supply Japan with U.S. ethanol. During a press conference with Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said his country is interested in importing … “bioethanol, ammonia and other resources” which could help reduce the U.S. trade deficit with Japan. “I want to just say that, on the ethanol, Iowa is going to be very happy. Nebraska, …
Brazil Upholds 18% Tariff on U.S. Ethanol
Despite appeals from the U.S. government, ethanol exporters and importers, Brazil’s Ministry of the Economy (CAMEX) has chosen to continue its 18 percent tariff on U.S. ethanol. U.S. ethanol interests, with support from the Brazil Association of Fuel Importers (ABICOM) and the U.S. government, previously submitted comments advocating for permanent tariff removal during a public consultation period that ended on …
USTR Working on Brazil Market Access for U.S. Ethanol
During a Senate Finance Committee hearing this week, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) asked U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Katherine Tai about the Biden administration’s “abdication of leadership on trade” and urged her to work on getting Brazil to lower tariffs on U.S. ethanol. “The last time you appeared before this committee I urged you to negotiate lower tariffs on ethanol …
U.S.-Japan Alliance Includes Ethanol as Carbon Reducer
President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last week announced several new strategic initiatives to further advance the U.S.-Japan Alliance, including the importance of ethanol as a decarbonization solution within the transportation sector. A Joint Leaders’ Statement issued by the White House stated, “We intend to advance widespread adoption of innovative new clean energy technologies, and seek to …
Lawmakers Pressure Administration on Brazil Ethanol Tariff
Last week, U.S. Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Darin LaHood (R-IL) led two letters to the Biden administration – one to President Biden and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai urging greater action in developing new markets for biofuels exports, and a second to Tai and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack specifically requesting work toward a full repeal of the Brazilian …
Grains Council Joins NEC Trade Panel Discussion
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) took part in the recent National Ethanol Conference (NEC) in San Diego. A delegation of Council staff and industry representatives from Mexico and the Latin American and Europe, Middle East and Africa regions attended the conference and USGC Japan Director Tommy Hamamoto joined a panel on Working with World Partners: The International Outlook. The panel …
Reps Ask USTR to Address Brazil Ethanol Tariff
More than 20 members of Congress, led by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), sent a letter this week to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai asking her to prioritize ethanol export competitiveness and address unfair import tariffs imposed on American ethanol by Brazil. The letter highlighted the importance of biofuel and ethanol production for rural communities throughout the country and how …
Argentina and Indonesia Biodiesel Duties Extended
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) last week announced its findings after its five-year (“sunset”) review of antidumping and countervailing duty orders on biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia and determined that revocation of them “would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.” As a result, the existing orders on imports of …