Brazil’s 18-percent tariff on US ethanol since January 2025 hasn’t stopped the US biofuel industry from finding other markets to grow its exports.
South Dakota native Luke Lindberg is working as the US Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Ag Affairs.
“The world is opening up to US ethanol. They recognize that it is a low-cost ‘win, win’ opportunity for many folks that need sustainability targets that they have set for themselves…and to reduce the price at the pump for US consumers.”
Lindberg says the industry is seeing growth in a variety of world markets.
“We have seen progress in Vietnam, Taiwan. We have seen a 50-percent increase of US ethanol going into the United Kingdom.”
Lindberg says additionally, Guatemala is instituting an ethanol mandate.
“We’re continuing to see tremendous progress on getting that E10 blend mandate implemented by June 30th of this summer. And it was great for President Arevalo and I to connect and make sure that we’re staying on track for implementation of that particular agreement.”
Meanwhile, Brazil continues to protect its producers with a steep import tariff– the subject of a US trade investigation– while the US levies a 2-and-a-half percent tariff on Brazilian ethanol.
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