Ag Groups Urge Action on Phosphate Fertilizer Duties Impacting Farmers

IL Corn, along with over 50 state grower groups and eight national ag groups, filed a letter with the Department of Commerce (DOC) on Friday, March 19, 2026, urging for countervailing duties to be revoked on imports of phosphate fertilizer as sunset review begins.

The letter emphasized that existing duties restrict supply and increase costs at a time when farmers can least afford it. “Maintaining the phosphate fertilizer [duties] will allow a small set of powerful corporations to continue to limit supply options for farmers,” the letter said. “This has already prevented farmers from accessing the tools that meet their crop production needs and resulted in lower yields and negative economic impacts.”

This action builds on a March 13, 2026, letter sent by 64 agricultural groups to the chief executives of the nation's two largest domestic fertilizer producers. The letter highlighted how the ongoing Middle East conflict has contributed to rising fertilizer prices—regardless of actual supply impacts—and urged the companies to support the removal of duties on phosphate imports from Morocco. “We strongly urge efforts to lower and stabilize prices by renouncing support of phosphate duties incurred through antidumping and countervailing duty investigations,” the letter states.

Phosphate fertilizer is a critical input for modern corn production to obtain maximum yield potential. However, current trade policies have constrained availability. In 2020, the Department of Commerce imposed duties on phosphate imports to Morocco and Russia following a petition from The Mosaic Company, supported by J.R. Simplot, citing unfair foreign subsidies.

Since then, the duties have had a major impact on the phosphate fertilizer market. As a result, at least one Moroccan company has halted shipments of phosphate fertilizers into the U.S., which has led to price hikes and shortages, leaving farmers with worsening hardships that continue to pile on with the conflict in the Middle East.

IL Corn is continuing to keep a close eye on these ongoing issues. We will continue to take action on these critical inputs necessary for farmers, especially as planting begins.

Read the letter sent to the Department of Commerce

Read the letter sent to Mosaic Company CEO Bruce Bodine and J.R. Simplot CEO Garrett Lofto