Washington, DC —
Senator John Thune (R-SD) issued the following statement after a U.S.-Brazil ethanol pact was signed today that could result in U.S. funds subsidizing the production of foreign ethanol that would ultimately be destined for the U.S. market. This would be a step backward for U.S. farmers and our biofuels industry.
"Given the growth of the Brazilian ethanol industry and its intentions to penetrate the American market, I believe the administration's plan to promote ethanol production in Brazil is not in the best interests of Americans.
"America's farmers, investors, states in the Midwest, and our federal government have spent years and billions of dollars developing the American ethanol industry. America's dependence on foreign fossil fuels should not be shifted to a new dependence on foreign ethanol.
"It is bad public policy for us to subsidize a foreign industry which could undermine our own efforts to promote energy independence and enhance American agriculture."
"Given the growth of the Brazilian ethanol industry and its intentions to penetrate the American market, I believe the administration's plan to promote ethanol production in Brazil is not in the best interests of Americans.
"America's farmers, investors, states in the Midwest, and our federal government have spent years and billions of dollars developing the American ethanol industry. America's dependence on foreign fossil fuels should not be shifted to a new dependence on foreign ethanol.
"It is bad public policy for us to subsidize a foreign industry which could undermine our own efforts to promote energy independence and enhance American agriculture."