A bipartisan group of Congressmen are asking U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to push the European Union to reduce tariffs on energy produced in the United States including ethanol and biodiesel. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw says he’s hoping the USTR can convince the EU to drop its protectionist stance on energy as they discuss the TTIP agreement.
He says if the tariffs aren’t reduced it will just hurt European consumers who want to purchase renewable fuels. Shaw says the ag sector in the E.U. has not helped their own consumers by pushing their government to keep high tariffs in place.
Shaw says the E.U.’s energy tariff has been an issue for some time and has kept a large amount of ethanol and biodiesel out of the market, including U.S. produced product.
The duties imposed by the European Union are $83.20 per metric ton.
