March 10, 2022: The Kansas Corn Growers Association thanked Senator Roger Marshall and Congressman Tracey Mann for introducing the Emergency Relief From Duties Act. The bills, introduced in the Senate and House, creates a pathway to create emergency waivers for duties leveed on fertilizers by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).

“Kansas Corn appreciates efforts of Senator Marshall and Congressman Mann to provide a pathway to waive tariffs on these inputs when agriculture experiences emergency situations that impact the price and availability of fertilizer,” said Kansas Corn Growers Association President Brent Rogers of Hoxie.

Background provided by Senator Marshall and Congressman Mann:

The current process for the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) does not consider broader economic issues when issuing a CVD or AD. The ITC only asks if unfair foreign pricing and government subsidies distort the free flow of goods in a way that warrant a CVD or AD. Rather than change the way a CVD or AD is issued or adjust the process on the front end, this bill focuses on creating a new petition process after a CVD or AD has been issued.

There are two ways that emergency situations will allow agricultural groups to petition the ITC: If the emergency situation limits the domestic production of merchandise subject to the duty in a manner that causes economic hardship for users of that merchandise or merchandise made from merchandise subject to the duty; or if the emergency situation would result in a supply and demand disruption that substantially increases the price of merchandise subject to the duty or merchandise made from merchandise subject to the duty.

The Kansas Corn Growers Association represents its members in legislative and regulatory issues and promotes corn and its products.