Detail

European Union

Biofuels

Biodiesel

01/03/2018

Trade

Import policy - trade dispute

Launched a new investigation concerning biodiesel imports from Argentina, citing evidence that Argentine biodiesel manufacturers benefit from state subsidies that damage EU producers.

The European Commission informed that it launched a new investigation concerning imports of biodiesel originating from Argentina, citing evidence submitted by the EU’s biofuel industry that Argentine biodiesel producers benefit from state subsidies, causing injury to EU producers. Allegedly, Argentina’s subsidies come in the form of artificially cheap goods and services (notably soybeans), price support for biodiesel, direct transfers and preferential loans, and government revenue forgone or not collected. By comparison, the anti-dumping duties imposed in 2013 were related to Argentina’s differential export tax system. The Commission’s new investigation has to be concluded by end February 2019, while provisional anti-subsidy duties may be applied from November 2018 onward.