Lawmakers Urge Biden Admin to Develop New Markets for Biofuel Exports

Reps. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., and Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, both members of the House Ways and Means Committee, announced last week that they have sent two letters to the Biden administration calling for more action to promote U.S. biofuel exports.

“With a $30 billion agricultural trade deficit projected for this fiscal year and farm income forecast to plummet by $40 billion, we must negotiate trade agreements that benefit American agriculture and advocate for our producers in global markets,” Feenstra said.

In one letter, addressed to President Joe Biden and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, the lawmakers recommend negotiating free trade agreements that open markets to U.S. exports of ethanol, biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel. “In the absence of enforceable FTAs, we urge you to pursue an aggressive strategy to increase opportunities for market access through the reduction of trade barriers,” the letter says.

In the second letter, addressed to Tai and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the lawmakers ask the administration to work to repeal Brazil’s 18% tariff on American ethanol. “Brazil’s continued unfair treatment of U.S. exports displaces American ethanol and negatively impacts the rural communities we represent,” the letter says.

USTR and USDA had no immediate comment on the letters.