Hogan Lovells protects food security interests with National Corn Growers’ ITC win

Press releases | 18 July 2022

Washington, D.C., 18 July 2022 – Global law firm Hogan Lovells today secured a victory for the National Corn Growers Association at the U.S. International Trade Commission, whose ruling will remove tariffs placed on urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), a fertilizer imported from Russia and Trinidad and Tobago. The Corn Growers’ Association argued that the proposed tariffs on imported fertilizer, which is necessary to maintain a diversity of supply in the marketplace, have only increased fertilizer prices and shortages since late 2021, when they were imposed. The ITC’s vote, issued today, can be found here.

“We are pleased to have supported American food security interests with today’s victory on behalf of farmers,” said Jared Wessel, a Washington, D.C.-based partner in Hogan Lovells’ International Trade & Investment practice. “This decision will go a long way to keeping fertilizer prices down for farmers, which in turn will help reduce the increasing food security crisis. It will also show that the successful U.S. fertilizer industry, which is enjoying record profits, is not injured by the comparatively small quantities of imported UAN fertilizer.”

In addition to Wessel, the Hogan Lovells team was led by International Trade & Investment partner Deen Kaplan, counsel Michael Jacobson, and associate Cayla Ebert, all based in Washington, D.C.