The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and state organizations sent a letter asking Mosaic executives to “voluntarily withdraw your countervailing duties and allow critical supply back into the U.S. at a time of inadequate supplies and soaring phosphate prices.” The letter notes, “... only 15% of phosphorous imports now come into the U.S. without tariffs. And experts say that using Commerce and ITC to manipulate the supply curve does indeed dictate price to farmers.”
NCGA, along with other ag groups, submitted an amicus brief in November in a case filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking to overturn the tariffs. A ruling in that case is not expected any earlier than summer of 2022. The organizations argue that Mosaic can request the countervailing duties can be cancelled.
At the state level, the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) asked the Iowa Attorney General’s office to investigate higher input prices including fertilizer. “...we are asking you to investigate on behalf of the ICGA and Iowa’s corn farmers, any actions that may include any or all of the following: price gouging, anti-trust violations, impact of the concentration of participants in the market, or any other consumer or farmer protection causes of action that may be available,” says the letter.
Other state corn grower groups are also asking for fertilizer price investigations in their states.
