CHESTERFIELD, Mo. (RFD News) — The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) says the United States should impose tariffs on Brazilian ethanol, arguing the move would help level the playing field for American producers.
The organization says U.S. farmers pay significantly more for key crop inputs than growers in Brazil. Its latest analysis found seed prices are 68 percent higher in the United States, while corn insecticides cost nearly 90 percent more.
NCGA says Brazilian farmers have greater access to generic crop inputs, while U.S. growers often must purchase products from global manufacturers. Association leaders called the pricing differences “price gouging” and said they were greater than expected.
The group also argues that if Brazil continues to impose tariffs on U.S. ethanol and discriminate against American producers, the United States should respond with tariffs of its own.
Separately, NCGA released new figures on the economic impact of last year’s corn crop. The organization found that U.S. farmers planted nearly 99 million acres of corn valued at more than $70 billion. It says that production contributed about $56 billion to the U.S. economy, supported more than 480,000 jobs, and generated $32 billion in wages across more than 500 industries nationwide.
