Brussels, 25/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 25 November, the European Union announced it had opened an investigation against US exporters of bio-ethanol accused by their European competitors of taking advantage of national public subsidies to carry out dumping on the Old Continent. According to the federation of European producers, ePURE, imports of American bio-ethanol into the EU surged by over 500% in 2008 and 2010. They are expected to double this year compared to 2010.
There is sufficient evidence to justify the opening of proceedings on this, an opinion published in the EU Official Journal states, speaking of “considerable dumping margin” given the documents in its possession. The inquiry is conducted by the European Commission. If results of the investigation show that there have indeed been dumping practices, then the EU may impose retaliatory customs measures in the sector, as it has already done for American and Canadian biodiesel. (LC/transl.jl)