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Renewable fuels groups call for U.S. retaliation to Brazil ethanol tariff

American ethanol supporters are asking the federal government to retaliate after Brazil imposed 20 percent tariffs on U.S. ethanol shipments larger than 158 million gallons.

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president Bob Dinneen calls the move blatantly protectionist.

“We have written to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, alerting him that we will be filing a petition to suspend Brazil’s designation under the Generalized System of Preference, the GSP.”

He says Brazil has benefited greatly from the GSP, gaining duty-free access to a wide range of U.S. products.

Dinneen tells Brownfield the Brazilian government is not providing fair and equitable access in return.

“Well, they’re clearly not doing that.  So they are in violation of that agreement, and we want the U.S. government to take a hard look at this.”

Dinneen says the U.S. has already sent signals to Brazil that there will be consequences to the ethanol tariff, as exports to that country have fallen more than 50 percent since the beginning of the year.

Joining RFA in sending the letter to Lighthizer were Growth Energy and the U.S. Grains Council.

 

 

 

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