The U.S. corn ethanol industry wants the Commerce Department to start a trade battle with China over protectionist tariffs imposed on the renewable fuel and its byproducts.

“China’s recent anti-dumping and countervailing tariffs on ethanol and [distillers grain] are significantly injuring U.S. ethanol producers and farmers, and undermining the substantial investments our industries have made in developing a trade relationship with the country,” said Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association CEO, at a hearing at the Commerce Department Thursday.