Brazilian agri minister trying to discuss post-August ethanol import deal with US next week

In Brazil, Reuters reports that the agriculture minister plans to bring up access of US ethanol to the Brazilian market during a heads of state meeting next week as part of wider discussions that will also include beef and sugar. The current rules that provide duty-free access to a maximum of 150 million liters of ethanol per quarter and a 20% tariff above those volumes is set to expire in August, and without a follow up plan all ethanol imports will revert to 20% in line with Mercosur trade rules. The US hasn’t confirmed that either of the three topics will be on the agenda, however.

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