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20 U.S. House members seek end of Brazil’s ethanol tariffs
Several Members of Congress have asked the U.S. Trade Representative to seek an agreement terminating Brazil’s ethanol tariff rate quota.
The letter to Robert Lighthizer was authored by Darin LaHood of Illinois and Adrian Smith of Nebraska and has eighteen co-signers.
The letter says Brazil has increasingly implemented protectionist trade policy after years of low or zero duties on ethanol imports. The Brazilian duties include a 20% tariff for every gallon above the quota.
The letter says ethanol accounts for nearly half of all U.S. agricultural exports to Brazil and they want Lighthizer to create a level playing field for U.S. ethanol. The members say Brazilian purchases peaked in 2018 and are down 32%, with sales likely to decline even more this year.
Members of Congress signing the letter include:
Roger Marshall, MD. Kansas R
Don Bacon Nebraska R
Jim Hagedorn Minnesota R
Mike Bost Illinois R
Cindy Axne Iowa D
Rodney Davis Illinois R
Vicky Hartzler Missouri R
Pete Stauber Minnesota R
Jeff Fortenberry Nebraska R
Ron Estes Kansas R
Collin Peterson Minnesota D
Dusty Johnson South Dakota R
Adam Kinzinger Illinois R
Cheri Bustos Illinois D
John Shimkus Illinois R
Dave Loebsack Iowa D
Tom Emmer Minnesota R
James Baird Indiana R