Detail

European Union

Biofuels

Biodiesel

01/01/2018

Trade

Import policy - trade dispute

Was notified by the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement body that the bloc\'s anti-dumping duties on biodiesel imports from Indonesia were inconsistent with WTO law.

In August 2015, the WTO’s dispute settlement body set up a panel to examine whether the EU’s anti-dumping duties on biodiesel imports from Indonesia – introduced in 2013 for five years – were consistent with the existing international trade agreements (see MPPU Oct.’15). The panel released its ruling in January 2018. Largely upholding claims by Indonesia, the panel found the disputed measure to be inconsistent with WTO law and recommended that the EU bring the measure into conformity with its obligations under the WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement and the GATT 1994. The EU and Indonesia may appeal the panel’s findings, in which event the WTO’s Appellate Body would have to review the case. The latest ruling follows last year’s WTO findings in favour of Argentina, regarding the EU’s anti-dumping duties on biodiesel imports from that country. In that instance, the EU agreed to cut its import tariffs, which prompted a resumption in biodiesel imports from Argentina (see also MPPU Nov.’16 & Oct.’17).