releases: https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-leads-senate-colleagues-in-urging-administration-to-not-impose-tariffs-on-phosphate-fertilizers
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/8/sen-moran-leads-senate-colleagues-in-urging-administration-to-not-impose-tariffs-on-phosphate-fertilizers | Sen. Moran Leads Senate Colleagues in Urging Administration to not Impose Tariffs on Phosphate Fertilizers | 2020-08-04 | 2020 | 2020-08 | Republican | House | KS | Jerry Moran | M000934 | www.moran.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today led a group of Senators in urging Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission Jason Kearns and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to not impose tariffs on imported phosphate fertilizer to make certain Kansas farmers have access to affordable fertilizers for their crops. U.S. farmers depend on affordable phosphate fertilizers to produce a variety of crops, including corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat, sorghum, sugar beets, and fruits and vegetables, the Senators wrote. Phosphorous accounts for approximately 20 percent of fertilizer usage and 15 percent of total cash costs for producers. The imposition of duties between 30.72 and 71.50 percent on phosphate fertilizers, as sought by the petitioner, would result in higher input costs for U.S. farmers. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) joined Senator Moran in signing the letter to Chairman Kearns and Secretary Ross. The full letter can be found here or below. Dear Secretary Ross and Chairman Kearns, We write in opposition to the countervailing duty (CVD) petition filed on June 26, 2020 against the import of phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia, and urge the Department of Commerce and U.S. International Trade Commission to reject the imposition of duties in its preliminary injury determination (Inv. No. 701-TA-650-651). U.S. farmers depend on affordable phosphate fertilizers to produce a variety of crops, including corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat, sorghum, sugar beets, and fruits and vegetables. Phosphorous accounts for approximately 20 percent of fertilizer usage and 15 percent of total cash costs for producers. The imposition of duties between 30.72 and 71.50 percent on phosphate fertilizers, as sought by the petitioner, would result in higher input costs for U.S. farmers. Agricultural producers have faced multiple years of low commodity prices and declining farm income. The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute estimates net cash farm income will decrease from $120.4 billion in 2019 to $102.2 billion in 2020. The analysis forecasts net cash farm income to fall even further, to $95.1 billion, in 2021. It is especially important during this downturn in the agricultural economy to avoid imposing unnecessary duties that will limit fertilizer supply options and raise the cost of production for farmers. Severe weather events in 2019, including historic floods, reduced planted acres and fertilizer applications compared to previous years. This decrease in demand for phosphate fertilizer, coupled with large inventories carried over from 2018, pushed the price of fertilizer down. The decrease in fertilizer prices, which has been driven by market forces, has been helpful to U.S. farmers and does not warrant intervention into the market by imposing duties that will have long term consequences. Given the financial harm duties on phosphate fertilizers will cause U.S. farmers, we urge the Department of Commerce and U.S. International Trade Commission to deny this petition. Thank you for your efforts to fairly enforce U.S. trade laws and for your consideration of our views. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |