WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), an Iowa corn farmer and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, joined Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and bipartisan, bicameral colleagues in urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to maintain open market access for American corn exports to Colombia. The lawmakers’ letter follows recent reports that Colombia may pursue an investigation into U.S. corn subsidies, which could limit American producers’ export options.
“Maintaining market access is critical to the interests of American farmers as Colombia consistently ranks among the top five export markets for U.S. corn year over year. In 2023 alone, the U.S. exported over 4 million metric tons of corn to Colombia, equivalent to $1.14 billion in sales,” the senators wrote. “American farmers cannot afford to lose such a vital export market.”
“As partners under the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, both U.S. and Colombian policymakers should avoid imposing trade barriers without sound economic analysis,” the senators continued. “We urge you to raise these concerns with Colombian officials and ensure full alignment under our trade agreement.”
The letter was co-signed by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), and 34 additional members of the House and Senate. Read the full letter at www.grassley.senate.gov/ download/us-corn-exports-to-columbia.
Background:
Since the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement was signed in 2012, U.S. corn exports to Columbia have increased substantially, accounting for over 96 percent of Colombia’s total corn imports last year. Colombia relies on imports to satisfy its livestock industry; it currently imports more than four times the amount of corn it produces.
An investigation into U.S. corn imports would be costly to defend and could result in significant countervailing duties. The resulting investigation could push American farmers out of critical markets and lead to feed shortages and higher food prices.