(NAFB) – Farm groups this week submitted comments to the U.S. International Trade Commission regarding duties on Russian and Moroccan imports of phosphate fertilizer.

The groups include the American Soybean Association, the National Corn Growers Association, and the National Cotton Council. The groups say, “countervailing duties on these imports will adversely impact the availability of phosphate fertilizer in the United States and adversely affect crop production and farmer livelihoods.”

The comments are part of the USITC’s hearing on a petition from the Mosaic Company for the countervailing duties on Russian and Moroccan imports. Mosaic says the company’s survival depends on stopping unfairly subsidized imports. However, the farm groups say countervailing duties impact the availability of phosphate fertilizers and lead to shortages. Additionally, the groups say the duties will reduce competition and choice available to farmers in the U.S. marketplace.

The farm groups request that the USITC remove the countervailing duties. Phosphate fertilizers are widely used by corn, cotton, soybean, and other crop producers throughout the United States.