A tentative deal to change U.S. biofuels policy has been put on pause after the Trump administration indefinitely delayed an expected announcement of the planned changes.
The White House had been expected to announce reforms to the U.S. Renewable Fuel Program early this week following months of negotiations, but the administration has struggled to find a balance between oil refiners and Midwest farmers. Stakeholders in corn states worried the changes would ultimately undermine demand for ethanol.
The anticipated White House deal would have eased pressure on the refining industry by allowing biofuels exports to count toward annual volumes quotas and would have expanded sales of high-ethanol gasoline in a concession to biofuels producers.
