USDA?s trade mission to Japan last week pressed Tokyo for ethanol sales as many countries look for new ways to reduce carbon emissions.
USDA Under Secretary for Trade and native Iowan Alexis Taylor says the trade mission?s efforts to promote ethanol in Japan were set in motion after Tokyo issued a green light in March.
Japan issued a new biofuels policy earlier this year that could boost U.S. ethanol sales by over 80 million gallons a year, worth up to an added 200 million dollars.
Taylor says ethanol is a vital tool for countries to reduce their carbon pollution.
Canada, India, the Netherlands, and the UK are leading U.S. ethanol importers. Industry leaders would like to see ethanol sales increase in new markets like Japan.
The latest efforts come at a key moment for biofuels, with the EPA about to issue final rules for ethanol and biodiesel use this year through 2025. The EPA is expected to release a final rule on biofuel blending volume mandates for the years 2023-2025 by June 21.
