EU slaps duties on U.S. biodiesel imports: sources

[Mugu]

By Darren Ennis, reuters.com

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A key European Union trade panel approved on Tuesday temporary anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on imports of biodiesel from the United States, sources with knowledge of the decision said.

"It went through with no problem," one source told Reuters on condition of anonymity after a meeting of the EU's anti-dumping committee of 27 national trade diplomats.

From March 13, U.S. firms exporting biodiesel into the EU will have to pay additional tariffs for an initial six months, ranging from 26 euros ($32.88) to 41 euros per 100 kg.

Also per 100 kg, Archer Daniels Midland will face duties of 26 euros, Cargill 27 euros, Imperium Renewables 29 euros, Green Earth Energy Fuels 28 euros and World Energy Alternatives 29 euros. Peter Cremer North America and most other U.S. biodiesel companies exporting to Europe will pay 41 euros per 100 kg.

http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-BusinessofGreen/idUSTRE51Q46F20090303">Complete article

[Idealism]

1. God forbid if the US puts tariffs on any of our things..

But if the world does it, its ok.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. It's done because those companies are gaming the system

From the article:

EU producers are particularly unhappy with subsidies for so-called B99 -- biodiesel with small amounts of mineral diesel -- that they said were distorting global trade rules.

The EU firms say exporters in the United States are involved in so-called "splash and dash," whereby they import cheaper biodiesel from countries such as Brazil and add less than 5 percent of U.S. mineral diesel so they can pick up the subsidy from Washington before exporting to Europe.

That's why these are 'anti-dumping and anti-subsidy' tariffs.

[Chemical Bill]

3. Biodiesel is way more expensive than petrodiesel here.

Europe, on the other hand, taxes petro and biofuels differently, to make biofuel competitive while it is in it's growth stages. That's why ADM et al want to buy it in Brazil and dump it in Europe. The way this country subsidizes the oil industry throws everything out of whack. I would like to see a healthy alternative to petroleum here, so I support subsidies for biofuels, but it's tough to support ADM and the like when they pull stunts like this. BTW, last I heard, we still didn't use all of the waste soy oil left from beef production. Anyway, my biodiesel comes from a local business that uses restaurant waste. http://www.newportbiodiesel.com/cms/

Bill