Europeans Look for More Sanctions on US Biodiesel

John Davis

USEUflagsEuropean biodiesel makers are poised to file another complaint against their counterparts in the U.S.

Last March, the European Biodiesel Board (EBB) was able to successfully lobby European Union trade officials to impose tariffs of 26 euros ($39.02) to 41 euros ($61.53) per 100 kg (220 lbs) on American biodiesel, complaining the American biodiesel was unfairly subsidized. The tariffs have virtually shut the Yankee green fuel out of the European market. Biofuels International reports that the new complaint says U.S. biodiesel is still getting into Europe by way of third countries:

The EBB said: ‘Against the background of persisting circumvention practices, the EBB General Assembly decided to proceed with the lodging of an anti-circumvention complaint to the EU trade authorities. If and when established, these practices will lead to heavy and retroactive financial penalties.’

The allegedly offending companies have not been identified as of yet, but the EBB is expected to file the complaint in the next few weeks.

Of course, the Europeans don’t seem to want to talk about how high taxes on their own biodiesel, such as in Germany, have severely hurt their own industry.

Biodiesel, International