BEIJING, CHINA — China plans to continue tariffs on distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) imported from the United States for another five years, Reuters reported.

Tariffs will stay at levels amounting to as much as 66%.

China’s ethanol producers are facing high prices of corn and weak domestic consumption.

The China Alcohol Industry Association welcomed the Commerce Ministry’s announcement.

“Over the past five years, the double duties have achieved remarkable results, effectively curbing the unfair trade of distiller’s grains from the United States, and ensuring the healthy development of the domestic distiller’s grains industry,” it said in a statement on the association’s official WeChat account. “If the anti-subsidy and anti-dumping measures are terminated, it is very likely that the US will again export large quantities of DDGS to China at a low price and may continue or cause damage to the domestic industry again.”

DDGS provide a high-protein meal are commonly used in feed for cattle, dairy cows, swine and some poultry.

Continued tariffs are not expected to have a significant impact on US exporters, Reuters said, noting they have shifted sales to other markets such as South Korea and Mexico since China implemented the duties in 2016.