ADMINISTRATION CONVEYS SUPPORT FOR ETHANOL TARIFF

News Date August 04, 2009

Key Obama Administration officials conveyed their support this week for the controversial U.S. ethanol tariff. In a letter responding to concerns by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) over the Administration’s nominee for ambassador to Brazil, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk clearly laid out their support for the $0.54 per gallon tariff on foreign ethanol. The letter states, "The Obama administration is committed to developing our domestic biofuels industry in order to reduce U.S. dependence on oil imports and increase our use of renewable energy resources. There has been no change of policy with respect to the U.S. import surcharge of $0.54 per gallon on ethanol. The administration has no plans to seek changes to the import surcharge." (Contact: David Hickey)