U.S. Lawmakers to USTR: Reduce EU Duties on U.S. Ethanol as Part of T-TIP

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Nine members of the US House of Representatives have pressed U.S. Trade Ambassador Michael Froman to push for reduced tariffs on US energy products including ethanol, according to a letter dated March 21.

The ethanol industry has been “unfairly targeted” by the European Union for increased anti-dumping duties that have cut the U.S. share of that market, according to the letter signed by lawmakers including Rod Blum (R-Iowa) and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.).

The lawmakers asked that the US Trade Representative (USTR) “examine opportunities” to reduce any tariffs on U.S. ethanol amid Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) negotiations. They characterized the duties as being unfair and encouraged Froman to leverage the prospect of EU access through T-TIP to all US energy sources — natural gas, crude and ethanol — as a way to reduce or eliminate trade obstacles to market access in Europe.

Duties of $83.20 per metric ton have eliminated the U.S. share of the European market for ethanol.

The next round of T-TIP negotiations will take place in New York City in mid-April.

Comments: If you ever want a lawmaker to be on your side of an issue, one of them is Rep. Peterson. We have watched and dealt with him for many years and can attest he is a friend of agriculture and the ethanol and biodiesel industries. And he is not afraid to point out facts and figures even when he disagrees with his own party.

NOTE: This column is copyrighted material; therefore reproduction or retransmission is prohibited under U.S. copyright laws.