Not frequently discussed in the turmoil about trade sanctions is the energy sector. The three countries with which the U.S. is currently engaged in trade disputes, China, Canada and Mexico, are major markets for energy exports. Ethanol has of course become reliant on exports over the past few years. Nearly 1.4 billion gallons were exported last year or about 10 percent of that used for total domestic use. Approximately 1.8 percent went to China, although that was after it imposed tariffs on imports in late 2016 (unrelated to the current trade disputes). China was a major market for U.S. ethanol in 2015, accounting for nearly 24 percent of all exports before dropping off to 6 percent in 2016. Through the first four months of this year, it w...