Washington DC, USA – US trade representative, Ambassador Ronald Kirk, said Jamaica has no need to worry about a threat to its ethanol exports to the United States (US) as the country’s regulatory regime for imported ethanol is not likely to change in the near future.

He gave this assurance when he met with Jamaica’s Ambassador to the US, Anthony Johnson, at the Embassy in Washington DC last week.

Ambassador Kirk stated that the Congressional Committee, with authority to change the tariff structure, is “very solid on the issue and Jamaica had nothing to worry about”.

Ambassador Johnson, in welcoming the news, said Jamaica was making every effort to increase its sugar cane production with the intention of boosting ethanol production.

Under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), Jamaica and other Caribbean countries enjoy duty-free access for ethanol to the US market, while Brazil and other South American countries face a duty of 54 cents per gallon. Brazil has been calling for similar duty free access to the US.

During the courtesy call, Ambassador Johnson presented Ambassador Kirk with a copy of his book, City of Kingston Souvenir.


- JIS
The Sunday Observer