The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy are disappointed with today’s decision by the European Commission (EC) to file an appeal with the EU General Court related to its ruling two months ago invalidating certain ethanol duties.

The EC had approximately two months from the June 9 court ruling to appeal. That ruling annulled the European Union’s 9.5 percent antidumping duty on ethanol imported from the United States produced by entities that had been selected as part of a sample group in an antidumping investigation. During the appeal process, the duty which has been in place since February 2013 will remain on ethanol generated by these producers and all other American ethanol entering the European Union.

“While not surprising, we are disappointed with EC’s decision,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “The antidumping duty should have never been assessed and is only hurting European consumers by shutting out the lowest-cost ethanol in the world. We will continue to fight to ensure the duty is removed.”

Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy added, “The ongoing resistance of the EC is frustrating. Their willingness to continue to pursue an unprecedented, protectionist agenda will only delay the inevitable outcome, absolving U.S. ethanol producers from any false claims of anti-dumping. We will continue to pursue all options to fight this unfounded complaint, and are confident we will be vindicated.”

Growth Energy and RFA filed a joint complaint in May 2013 outlining violations by the European Commission claiming that it effectively shut out U.S. ethanol producers from accessing the European market.