SSGA meets with Organic Soybean Processors of America

The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) met with representatives of the Organic Soybean Processors of America (OSPA) on Wednesday to learn more about OSPA’s issues and have a conversation about how the two organizations might work together in the future.

Established in 2018, OSPA is a trade association that represents the U.S. organic soybean processing industry in advocating for fair and free trade. Currently, it is concerned with issues related to India.

OPSA is, according to its website, “working to monitor India’s foreign soybean meal subsidies and the impact on domestic mills. The U.S. government has filed documentation with the World Trade Organization highlighting India’s unfair subsidies.” OPSA is also “working to ensure U.S. trade offices include the organic industry in all trade negotiations.”

On March 31, OSPA filed an antidumping and countervailing duty petition with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission alleging that organic soybean meal from India is being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value. Additionally, the petition alleges that India is providing unfair subsidies to Indian producers and exporters of organic soybean meal to the U.S.

Seeking to rally support for the cause, OSPA’s John Sheppard, president of Sheppard Grain Enterprises, and OSPA counsel Dan Ujczo met with SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg and executive board members Bob Sinner (chair), Rob Prather (vice-chair) and Darwin Rader (secretary/treasurer), along with communications manager Shane Frederick and Kim Nill, director of market development for the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council.

SSGA is also working on market access in India on behalf of U.S. Identity Preserved soya and specialty grains exporters.

View the Federal Register filing here.