Key facts
- Bayer, through its subsidiary Monsanto, has petitioned the U.S. Commerce Department and International Trade Commission to impose duties on glyphosate imported from China.
- The company alleges that Chinese glyphosate is being sold at artificially low prices due to predatory trade practices and subsidies.
- U.S. farmers, facing financial difficulties, have criticized the move, warning that import duties will increase the cost of the herbicide.
- The National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association stated that imposing import taxes would limit market competition and hurt U.S. farmers.
- This action follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that blocked thousands of state-court lawsuits against Bayer concerning glyphosate's alleged link to cancer.
Bayer, through its subsidiary Monsanto, has formally requested that Washington impose duties on glyphosate imported from China. The company argues that the herbicide is being sold at artificially low prices due to predatory trade practices and subsidies, making the domestic glyphosate business unsustainable. This petition was filed with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission.
The move has sparked significant backlash from U.S. farmers, who have been struggling financially for years due to high input costs. Organizations like the National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association have voiced strong opposition, stating that import duties would increase the cost of the essential herbicide, limit market competition, and exacerbate their financial woes. Jed Bower, president of the National Corn Growers Association, stated that Bayer's action benefits only the company and its shareholders at the expense of American farmers.
This petition comes shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked thousands of state-court lawsuits that accused Bayer's weedkiller Roundup, which contains glyphosate, of causing cancer. The court overturned a jury verdict that had awarded $1.25 million to a man who claimed exposure to glyphosate led to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Bayer has previously indicated it might cease selling Roundup if legal protections against product liability litigation were not strengthened, having already paid approximately $10 billion to settle such claims.