US Congress advances bill to cut fertilizer tariffs

Yesterday 15:23

By: Dakir Madiha

US Congress advances bill to cut fertilizer tariffs

The United States Congress has moved forward with a legislative proposal aimed at removing countervailing duties on imported phosphate fertilizers from Morocco. Identical versions of the bill were introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, signaling coordinated political momentum behind the measure. The initiative has gained support from several influential agricultural organizations concerned about rising production costs across the farming sector.

The proposed legislation, known as the Lowering Input Costs for American Farmers Act, seeks to eliminate additional tariffs imposed on phosphate-based fertilizer imports. Lawmakers backing the bill argue that these duties have increased expenses for key agricultural commodities, including corn, soybeans, and cotton. They say reducing input costs is necessary to stabilize farm profitability in a period of volatile global commodity prices.

The dispute over phosphate fertilizer imports dates back to 2020, when the United States Department of Commerce imposed countervailing duties following a complaint from domestic industry actors, including Mosaic Company and its partners. The complaint alleged that certain foreign producers benefited from unfair subsidies. Since then, farm groups such as the National Corn Growers Association have questioned the calculation methods used to justify the tariffs, arguing that they have reduced supply and contributed to higher prices for farmers.

The current legislative push comes amid an ongoing review of trade measures affecting agricultural inputs. Some shipments linked to Moroccan exporters have faced interruptions during the process, tightening supply conditions in the US market. Farmers continue to report elevated fertilizer costs, adding pressure to production margins already affected by fluctuating global demand and input volatility.