US Soybean growers disappointed in 2;4-D Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties vote

(Posted on 30/04/25)

The International Trade Commission in the USA has voted in favour of imposing final anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) on imports of 2;4-D from China and India.

Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association and a soybean farmer from Kentucky, said, “The announcement of these final duties on imports is disappointing to soybean growers across the country who depend on imports of generic 2;4-D in combination with other herbicides for burn-down purposes to kill weeds before planting, particularly in no-till and minimum-till operations.”

Earlier this month, Ragland joined NCGA President Kenny Hartman to testify in front of the ITC regarding the negative impact additional duties would have on soybean and corn farmers.

“For soybean farmers, times are already tough. Production costs are nearing record highs. The prices of soybeans have decreased more than 40% in the past three years. Our herbicide options are becoming increasingly limited. Imports of 2,4-D products do not compete at all with Corteva’s 2,4-D choline product that is required by law and by contract to be used with Corteva’s Enlist soybeans—and which have a 60% market share that continues to increase every year. New duties on 2,4-D would make things even harder, further disrupting our access to reliable herbicide tools in our toolbox,” Ragland noted in his statement before the ITC.

2,4-D is an herbicide active ingredient that contains carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and oxygen. Products containing 2,4-D derivatives, like the salt and ester forms, are blended with other active ingredients, chemicals and/or water to create end-use crop protection products. Over 1,500 herbicide products contain 2,4-D as an active ingredient.

ASA remains concerned with the rising costs of inputs for U.S. soybean growers. Duties imposed because of this vote could not come at a worse time for farmers, as tariffs and trade uncertainty, coupled with the rising cost of inputs, continue to place financial pressure on U.S. agriculture. The Department of Commerce will determine and issue final duty rates for these imported products.