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RFA: USMCA review could boost ethanol sales south of the border

The president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association says the review of the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement could boost U.S. ethanol exports.

Geoff Cooper tells Brownfield Mexico has regulatory barriers in place, but.

“There does seem to be a growing openness and understanding in Mexico that they really could benefit from opening their market to U.S. ethanol. It would help lower their prices.”

He says Mexico uses more MTBE than any other country in the world to raise octane levels in its gasoline.

“And we all know the human health dangers of MTBE, the water quality dangers of using that product. That’s why it’s not used in the U.S. and most of the world today. So I do think there is a new discussion happening in Mexico about allowing access for ethanol.”

Cooper says Canada remains the largest importer of U.S. ethanol, so it’s important the USMCA review does not disrupt that market.