Chinese Ambassador Qin Gang on Wednesday visited Marquis Energy, the largest producer of dry-mill ethanol in the U.S. and leader in bio energy carbon capture. 

The Ambassador and his team toured the massive facilities on the Illinois River in Hennepin, Illinois and discussed the process of converting corn into ethanol. 

The teams discussed the future of ethanol - a high octane, high performance renewable fuel - used as an oxygenate in gasoline and bio jet fuels. 

They also discussed dry distiller grains used in high quality animal feed, and the effects of the current trade situation between China and the U.S., that has seen heavy tariffs stalling valuable exchange between the two countries.  

The visit comes ahead of the Ambassador’s tour of the American Midwest this week.

Antidumping, countervailing, and tariffs put in place during the Trump administration have kept China from its place as the former largest importer of their company’s products. 

Marquis Energy now exports virtually zero to China, as tariffs as high as 70 percent are too high for them to sell their products. They say they are willing to cooperate with Chinese authorities and look forward to continuing the discussion and friendship in these sustainable enterprises. 

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