Growth Energy Welcomes USTR Determination on Brazil’s Unfair Trade Practices

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, welcomed the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) latest response to Brazil’s unfair trade practices. The decision, which imposes tariffs of 25 percent on most goods from Brazil, followed a year-long investigation into policies that effectively ban American ethanol from Brazil’s market.

“For nearly a decade, Brazil has unfairly blocked U.S. ethanol imports, while their own producers enjoy complete and unfettered access to American markets,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “That imbalance has caused extraordinary harm to U.S. farmers and ethanol producers, and today’s decision marks an important step toward repairing the damage. We aren’t looking for preferential treatment, simply a return to the mutually beneficial trade that once defined the relationship between the world’s largest biofuel producers.”

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USTR Testimony and RenovaBio

As Growth Energy has repeatedly emphasized in testimony to USTR, Brazil’s unfair trade practices go beyond tariffs as Brazil has engaged in systematic discrimination against U.S. biofuels under its clean fuel program, RenovaBio, while disguising deforestation by Brazilian producers. Those practices have stoked unfounded claims about land use change attributed to U.S. ethanol, harming U.S. exports to the United Kingdom, Japan, and the European Union.

“We applaud the Trump administration for standing up against Brazil’s efforts to limit U.S. ethanol’s global eligibility for new uses, such as in the maritime and aviation sectors,” added Skor. “Moving forward, we look forward to working with USTR on additional remedies to create a level playing field for America’s farm exports.”

Expanding America's Bioeconomy

Growth Energy is the leading voice of America’s biofuel industry. Our members operate and support biomanufacturing facilities at the heart of America’s bioeconomy, delivering a new generation of clean fuel options.