U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai insists that U.S. efforts to get Brazil to ease its protectionist tariffs on American ethanol are being taken seriously.
However, United States congress members have pushed back pointing out that Brazil increased its duties on imported ethanol this year from 16 to 18 percent. Meanwhile, Brazil is sending its ethanol to the U.S. tariff-free.
U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai says she is in active talks with the Brazilians regarding ethanol tariffs.
Brazil reimposed its tariff on imported U.S. ethanol early last year. Ten U.S. Senators wrote President Biden a letter to oppose the move in face-to-face talks with Brazil’s president. Some lawmakers insist he never raised the issue. Trade Ambassador Tai says she’s now directly dealing with the issue.
U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai’s office is part of the executive branch, and she sits on the president’s cabinet. Brazil suspended its original 20 percent ethanol import tariff for January last year, but before and since then has sought to protect its market.
The Brazilian ethanol issue is one of many trade fights the U.S. is currently waging. Also at hand is the dispute over Mexico’s GMO corn ban and Canada’s limits on U.S. dairy imports.
