Monsanto and parent company, Bayer, have asked federal trade officials to investigate glyphosate imports from China and impose antidumping and countervailing duties, arguing the imports are being sold at unfairly low prices and are threatening domestic production. (Julia Thomas)
WASHINGTON — Monsanto and parent company, Bayer, have asked federal trade officials to investigate glyphosate imports from China and impose antidumping and countervailing duties, arguing the imports are being sold at unfairly low prices and are threatening domestic production.
Monsanto said the action is necessary to preserve long-term U.S. glyphosate production.
In its petition, the company alleges Chinese producers are selling glyphosate in the United States below fair market value and benefiting from government subsidies.
Bayer is currently the only domestic producer of glyphosate for U.S. farmers.
The herbicide is one of the most widely used crop-protection tools in American agriculture.
The filing comes days after a Supreme Court ruling that many agricultural groups said could help preserve access to glyphosate products amid ongoing litigation involving Roundup.
The petition has drawn immediate opposition from major farm organizations.
The National Corn Growers Association said new duties could increase costs for farmers already facing high input expenses, low commodity prices and economic uncertainty.
The group argued the action could reduce competition and make a key agricultural input more expensive.
The American Soybean Association also criticized the filing, saying glyphosate is a critical tool for soybean producers and warning that new trade barriers could raise costs and limit access to affordable supplies.
The National Association of Wheat Growers expressed similar concerns, saying additional duties on glyphosate imports could further strain farmers during a difficult economic period.
The Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission will now determine whether to open formal investigations.
If the agencies find imports are being unfairly traded and causing injury to domestic producers, duties could be imposed on glyphosate imported from China.