WASHINGTON, D.C. – Some farm groups expressed disappointment with a recent decision by the International Trade Commission affirming that Corteva Agriscience was harmed by imports of a critical herbicide, called 2,4-D. This decision means that duties will be placed on imports of the herbicide at a final rate determined later by the Department of Commerce. 

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) recently voted in favor of imposing final anti-dumping and countervailing duties (levied tax) on imports of 2,4-D from China and India, agreeing that the agricultural chemical company Corteva Agriscience was harmed by imports of the herbicide.

“Over the past three years, a large majority of the imports of 2,4-D into the United States came from China and India,” said Cynthia Ericson, Corteva vice president, weed control segment, in her April 1 testimony before the ITC. “We have witnessed a tremendous increase in imports coupled to a significant decrease in price of those same imports. As a result, Chinese and Indian producers are now selling to our former customers.”

According to the EPA, 2,4-D (or 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) is a widely-used herbicide that controls broadleaf weeds, and has been used as a pesticide since the 1940s. More than 1,500 herbicide products contain 2,4-D as an active ingredient that contains carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and oxygen.

Anti-dumping and countervailing duties are extra import duties designed to protect domestic industries from unfair trade practices, such as selling goods at less than fair market value, or benefiting from foreign government subsidies, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These duties aim to level the playing field by offsetting the advantage gained through such practices, the agency added.

Last July, a coalition of six national farm groups asked U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in a letter to weigh the impact on U.S. farmers as she reviewed a petition by Corteva that would place tariffs on imports of the herbicide, 2,4-D, from China and India.

Kenneth Hartman, Jr., National Corn Growers Association President and a Waterloo, Ill., farmer, said in an April 29 media statement, “We are concerned and alarmed by this ruling. Corn growers should not be forced to rely exclusively on one domestic supplier. Today’s decision threatens to cause availability shortages for 2,4-D that will hamper the work of our farmers, who are facing a tough environment due to a prolonged period of high input costs and low prices.”

Caleb Ragland, American Soybean Association president and a Magnolia, Ky., soybean farmer, said in an April 29 media statement, “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.”

In early April, Ragland joined 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,” Ragland said. “Production costs are nearing record highs. The prices of soybeans have decreased more than 40 percent 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 percent market share that continues to increase every year,” he added. “New duties on 2,4-D would make things even harder, further disrupting our access to reliable herbicide tools in our toolbox.”

Dave Walton, Iowa Soybean Association District 6 director and Wilton, Iowa, farmer, who grows soybeans, corn, commercial hay and manages beef cattle with his father, son, and wife, Paula, told Farm World, “For me as a soybean farmer, I think the decision is a little disheartening. Mainly because of already high production costs, and the shrinking number of herbicide options available.

“The 2,4-Ds that are brought in from those countries are generally used by farmers like me for pre-emergence, burn-down applications and no-till or reduced till,” he said. “Domestic 2, 4-D is typically applied after the crop has emerged. The generic products are not labeled for over-the-top application, so it’s actually illegal for us as farmers to use that product in post-emergent application.”

“Worst-case scenario: farmers may have to buy the domestic, higher-priced product for the 2026 growing season, essentially doubling costs for us,” he added. “With the tariff dispute with China going on right now, there’s plenty of pressure on the soybean market. I think most folks are penciling in a slim- to zero-profit margin on soybean acres this year.”