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Brazil suspends ethanol tariff

U.S. ethanol exports to Brazil will not face significant tariffs when the new year begins.

Renewable Fuels Association CEO Geoff Cooper tells Brownfield the Brazilian government has extended the suspension of a 20 percent tariff set to resume January 1st.

“This extension buys us some time and gives us some breathing room to work with the new administration on a longer-term, permanent resolution to that tariff. And our goal of course is to have it removed entirely.”

He calls Brazil a major customer of U.S. ethanol and says it’s also the largest source of ethanol imports into the U.S.

“We’ve had a long and prosperous trading relationship with Brazil, and we want to see it restored to the point where both countries are open to each others’ products. So that’s our goal.”

Cooper says the ethanol tariff is suspended through the end of January and the incoming administration has been supportive of duty-free access in the past.