"I've spoken (about the tariffs) so many times with President Bush and certainly I will speak about it many times with President Obama," Silva said. "That's why I'm asking for your help."

Brazil is the world's largest exporter of ethanol but unlike the US, makes the additive from sugar cane. Brazilian ethanol covers about 3% of US demand. Sugar-based ethanol costs less, produces lower amounts of greenhouse gases and is more efficient than ethanol made from corn.

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