The American Soybean Association has filed joint comments to the U.S. International Trade Commission regarding a petition by the Mosaic Company to enforce countervailing duties on Russian and Moroccan imports of phosphate fertilizer. ASA president and soybean farmer from Valley Springs, South Dakota, Kevin Scott, says the tariffs will have a negative impact on the availability and cost of phosphate fertilizer in the U.S.
He says Mosaic’s petition in support of countervailing duties is jeopardizes domestic availability of phosphate fertilizer and reduces the competition and choices available to farmers.
Phosphorus is one of several main macronutrients vital to crop production and phosphate fertilizers are widely used by soybean, corn and other crop producers. That’s why Scott says ASA joined National Corn Growers Association and National Cotton Council of America in filing the comments to the ITC on Feb. 17.
Scott says if the countervailing duties are approved they will be in place for five years.
