Corn grower advocates push to open new foreign markets 

By Lesly McNitt, NCGA Vice President of Public Policy 

Tariffs have been the talk of the town in Washington during the last several weeks, and their impact on the corn economy is an issue my team and I have been concerned about as our farmers face high input costs and lower corn prices. 

But President Donald Trump’s laser focus on trade has also created opportunities for new trade deals that may open new markets that can benefit farmers and rural America. 

In a positive sign of forward momentum, the president recently announced a trade agreement that will increase access for American agricultural products to the United Kingdom, including ethanol. 

During the announcement, Trump officials indicated that tariffs on U.S. ethanol shipped into that country will be reduced to zero. According to the White House fact sheet, this opens up an opportunity of up to $700 million worth of increased U.S. ethanol exports. 

The president has indicated that he is not stopping with the United Kingdom. He’s focused on deals with other countries and has recently engaged in talks with the Indian government, which is a positive development as the country, with its 1.4 billion consumers, would be a major market for America’s corn growers. 

India has long been elusive to U.S. corn growers who have faced many restrictions on exports to the country, particularly with shipments of biotech corn and corn ethanol and its co-products. 

Recently, NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. took part in an online press conference in which he talked about India’s trade barriers and highlighted the benefits of accessing the country’s market. As he told reporters, India is one of the largest market opportunities for U.S. corn exports, has the world’s largest dairy herd and possesses an ambitious ethanol blending program in need of corn. 

The economic boon that such a market would provide corn growers and rural communities would help offset the potential problems growers would experience if retaliation occurred from other countries. 

NCGA’s economists have run the numbers, which show the economic benefits of making inroads into the Indian market. Here is what the data tell us: 

• If the Indian government were to drop its restrictions on genetically modified corn, it could open the door to $235 million worth of U.S. exports each year. 

• If the United States were able to supply India’s sustainable aviation fuel market, it would represent $434 million opportunity for U.S. corn farmers in the first year of access. 

• Finally, if dried distillers’ grains were imported into the country, it would result in $13.75 million in imports in year one, growing to an estimated $137.5 million within five years. 

Our public and private drumbeat continues as we work to support the administration’s efforts while ensuring our products are front and center during negotiations. We are not stopping with the United Kingdom and India. 

We plan to advocate for additional agreements with countries like Vietnam and Kenya, as well. You can follow our efforts by visiting www.ncga.com and support our work by joining your state corn grower organization. 

We look forward to updating you on the success of our work. Here’s to unlocking new markets. 

NCGA leaders optimistic 

The NCGA praised a new bilateral trade agreement that increases access for American agricultural products to the United Kingdom, including ethanol. The agreement was announced by President Donald Trump at a morning press conference at the White House. 

“This is great news,” said Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. “We applaud President Trump and his administration for brokering this deal, and we encourage them to continue to include corn, corn ethanol and corn co-products in future bilateral agreements with other countries.” 

During the announcement, Trump officials indicated that tariffs on U.S. ethanol will be reduced to zero. According to the White House fact sheet, this covers $700 million worth of U.S. ethanol exports. 

NCGA had previously asked the Trump administration for increased ethanol access in the United Kingdom. The country is currently the second largest destination for U.S. ethanol exports, taking in 244 million gallons, which is 12.7 percent of the total U.S. ethanol exports for 2024. Ethanol exports to the UK have steadily increased since 2021. 

Hartman also said NCGA fully supports the Trump administration’s effort to forge a new trade relationship with India, and corn growers urge the administration to include corn and corn co-products, such as ethanol and its byproducts, in any final agreement with the South Asian country. 

The comments came during an online press conference as NCGA released data showing India would be a valuable market for the nation’s corn growers and benefit rural America should the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to open the market to American goods prove effective. 

“We applaud the Trump administration for the trade outreach it is conducting with India, and we will advocate over the next few months to encourage the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to include American corn exports in any new trade agreement it makes with the country,” Hartman said. “Building a more level playing field for all American products to access global markets is exactly what corn growers need, especially as we face a projected third consecutive year of negative returns.” 

He added that the organization will continue working directly with the Trump administration and with the media to highlight how beneficial an agreement with India would be for the nation’s corn growers.