Commerce Department to Raise Tariffs on Phosphorous Fertilizers – Corn Growers Object

Leaders at the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) say they are worried about the availability and price of inputs after the Commerce Department announced plans to raise tariffs on phosphorous fertilizers imported from Morocco from 2.12% to 14.21%.

Commerce's actions come after the domestic fertilizer company Mosaic requested action from the agency in 2023 over an import dispute with another multi-national company.

"The price of corn has dropped, and input costs are already high, so the Commerce Department's decision is the last thing farmers need," said Minnesota farmer and NCGA President Harold Wolle. "If fertilizers continue to go up in price and are hard to secure, farmers will only have Mosaic and the Commerce Department to thank."

The proposed new rate would be the final retroactive tariff for 2022 imports and serve as the new provisional rate required to be deposited with U.S. Customs for imports from November 2024 and onward until the conclusion of the next administrative review, if requested.

NCGA has spent the last two years sounding the alarms on the issue and lobbying to lower the tariffs or eliminate them altogether.

EDITOR’S TAKE:

To paraphrase Harold Wolle, this is just what farmers don’t need right now. This year will be difficult enough without the added pressure of higher fertilizer prices and perhaps limited availability this fall. It could also have a negative impact on consumers through higher inflation at the grocery store. Now would be a perfect time to bring out AgPack®. With potential savings of up to $35,000 that could lower operating costs, AgPack® is farmer/rancher friendly and it can help close the deal on a new or qualified used truck!