The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), along with 12 national agricultural associations, is encouraging the Trump administration to remove barriers to biotech products, including corn, so that American exporters can access markets in Africa.

The move comes as the U.S. Trade Representative sought public comments on modernizing and extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act. AGOA is authorized through December 31, 2026, and Congress will have to act before then to prevent the program from lapsing.

NCGA filed comments regarding barriers to corn and ethanol trade with nations in Africa and filed a letter to the deputy U.S. trade representative, Jeffrey Goettman, outlining ways the act could better facilitate the trade of biotech products.

"This effort to modernize AGOA provides an important moment in time to establish criteria that foster market access opportunities for American farmers and can set the stage for future trading relationships that are mutually beneficial," the letter said. "A continuation of the status quo will not only limit development in Africa, but it will relegate American farmers to residual market share when, in actuality, the quality and standards upheld by American farmers and exporters are second to none."

The letter is part of a broader effort by NCGA to open markets for corn growers and eliminate barriers with existing markets. Issues around biotech corn are important to U.S. growers as 94% of the nation's planted corn is derived from biotechnology.

Read the Letter