CORN REFINERS ASSOCIATION APPLAUDS TRADE ACCORD WITH COLOMBIA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2011

CONTACT: David Knowles
(202) 331-1634

WASHINGTON, DC – The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) applauded the announcement of an accord between the United States and Colombia, which will provide a path forward for congressional approval of the free trade agreement between the two nations.

“The benefits of this trade agreement with Colombia to our industry’s workers and to the U.S. economy are clear,” said Audrae Erickson, CRA President. “We urge Congress to act quickly to approve the agreement once it is finalized.”

Tariffs on corn gluten feed and meal, corn starch, and dextrose will be reduced to zero when the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement becomes effective. Duties on other corn products, including corn oil, corn sweeteners, and corn starch, will be phased out over the life of the Agreement. U.S. exports of refined corn products to Colombia are expected to increase significantly under the deal.

###

The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) is the national trade association representing the corn refining (wet milling) industry of the United States. CRA and its predecessors have served this important segment of American agribusiness since 1913. Corn refiners manufacture sweeteners, ethanol, starch, bioproducts, corn oil, and feed products from corn components such as starch, oil, protein, and fiber.

Visit us on the Web at www.Corn.org