Corn Grower Advocates Push to Open New Foreign Markets

Lesly McNitt
May 14, 2025

Tariffs have been the talk of the town in Washington over the last several weeks and their impact on the corn economy is an issue my team and I have been concerned about as our farmers face high input costs and lower corn prices. But President Donald Trump’s laser focus on trade has also created opportunities for new trade deals that may open new markets that can benefit farmers and rural America.


In a positive sign of forward momentum, the president recently announced a trade agreement that will increase access for American agricultural products to the United Kingdom, including ethanol. During the announcement, Trump officials indicated that tariffs on U.S. ethanol shipped into that country will be reduced to zero. According to the White House fact sheet, this opens up an opportunity of up to $700 million worth of increased U.S. ethanol exports.

The president has indicated that he is not stopping with the United Kingdom. He’s focused on deals with other countries and has recently engaged in talks with the Indian government, which is a positive development as the country, with its 1.4 billion consumers, would be a major market for America’s corn growers.

India has long been elusive to U.S. corn growers who have faced many restrictions on exports to the country, particularly with shipments of biotech corn and corn ethanol and its co-products.

Recently, NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. took part in an
online press conference in which he talked about India’s trade barriers and highlighted the benefits of accessing the country’s market. As he told reporters, India is one of the largest market opportunities for U.S. corn exports, has the world’s largest dairy herd and possesses an ambitious ethanol blending program in need of corn.

The economic boon that such a market would provide corn growers and rural communities would help offset the potential problems growers would experience if retaliation occurred from other countries.

NCGA’s economists have run the numbers, which show the economic benefits of making inroads into the Indian market. Here is what the data tell us:

  • If the Indian government were to drop its restrictions on genetically modified corn, it could open the door to $235 million worth of U.S. exports each year.


  • If the United States were able to supply India’s sustainable aviation fuel market, it would represent $434 million opportunity for U.S. corn farmers in the first year of access.


  • Finally, if dried distillers grains were imported into the country, it would result in $13.75 million in imports in year one, growing to an estimated $137.5 million within five years.

Our public and private drumbeat continues as we work to support the administration’s efforts while ensuring our products are front and center during negotiations. We are not stopping with the United Kingdom and India. We plan to advocate for additional agreements with countries like Vietnam and Kenya, as well. You can follow our efforts by visiting www.ncga.com and support our work by joining your state corn grower organization.

We look forward to updating you on the success of our work. Here’s to unlocking new markets!

McNitt is vice president of public policy at the National Corn Growers Association.

The sun is setting behind the capitol building in washington d.c.
By Lyndi Allen July 3, 2025
Illinois corn farmers will be impacted by many provisions in the Budget Reconciliation Bill that passed in both chambers this week.
By Tara Desmond July 3, 2025
Mid-Year Highlights: IL Corn Top 10 Read Stories
A map of the world with arrows pointing to trade countries
By Lyndi Allen July 3, 2025
Trade plays a critical role in driving demand for U.S. corn—not only as grain or feed, but also as fuel.
Top Videos of 2025
By Tara Desmond July 2, 2025
Harvesting the Best: A Look at IL Corn’s Top 10 Videos of 2025
By Lindsay Croke June 30, 2025
When we think of Independence Day traditions, sweet corn on the cob is as iconic as fireworks and often even more central to the celebration. According to Instacart, purchases of sweet corn surge by 380% over the annual average heading into July 4th, outranking other grilling staples like baby back ribs and burgers. But corn's role in your Fourth of July celebration goes far beyond your plate. In Illinois alone, 8,300 acres of sweet corn are harvested annually, averaging 155 cwt per acre. That’s more than 128 million pounds of locally grown sweetness fueling summer cookouts across the state. And while sweet corn makes a big impression on the grill, most of Illinois’ corn crop isn’t sweet corn - it’s field corn. Less than 1% of the state’s crop is sweet corn, while the rest is used in products that are often invisible to consumers but vital to everyday life: fuel, packaging, fireworks, and even spirits.
The sun is setting behind the capitol building in washington d.c.
By Lyndi Allen June 27, 2025
From Springfield to D.C., lawmakers are listening, and Illinois corn farmers are leading the conversations.
Show More