DES MOINES – This week, the Japanese government updated its biofuel policy and will allow imports of ETBE – a gasoline additive – made from U.S. corn-based ethanol.
According to the U.S. Grains Council, the change comes as part of the country’s update of its existing sustainability policy, approved in 2010, in which only sugarcane-based ethanol was eligible for import and which only allowed sugarcane-based ethanol for the production of ETBE, an oxygenate. The new policy calls for an increase in the carbon intensity reduction requirements of ethanol used as a feedstock to make ETBE to meet a 55 percent reduction, up from 50 percent, and recognizes corn-based, U.S.-produced ethanol’s ability to meet that goal, even with the higher greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction standard.
Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a statement on Friday following news that Japan will open its market to U.S. ethanol:
“Today is a great day for Iowa farmers and our state’s renewable fuels industry. With Japan opening its market to U.S. ethanol, Iowa can further expand our trade opportunities in that region of the world.
“Agriculture at the hands of hardworking farmers is a vital piece of the U.S. economy. Now, more than ever, ethanol production strengthens Iowa’s ability to continue as an agricultural leader by giving farmers another market for their commodities.
“Iowans think globally and rely on expanded trade opportunities to give farmers another market for their commodities. Today’s announcement moves us forward on that path and further solidifies Japan and Iowa’s long history of friendship.”
Japan is Iowa’s third largest export destination, purchasing over $1 billion in Iowa made/grown products in 2017. Japan is Iowa’s largest customer outside of NAFTA.
This is great news but on the other hand I’m worried potential China pork tariffs could hurt pork and possibly beef producers with higher corn prices.
We subsidize farmers so they can sell their products to China and keep the prices up here in the states. That is BULL!
Pork and beef are not subsidized, idiot!
Russia Russia Russia
It really is funny how many people in the immediate orbit of Trump have ties to Russia. Multiple indictments and guilty pleas in the first year of investigation. But it’s definitely Hillary who is the criminal right?
You Dumb Ass. Once again you are suffocating with you head so far up your ass.
Spoken like a true Russian sympathizer
Spoken like a Liberal Dumb Ass Troll!
If you would read the USC AND COMPREHEND the contents you would know your last sentence is TRUE if you remove the question mark.
This is great news.
Ha, ha, Trump strikes again.