Brussels, 19/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - Buenos Aires is calling for consultations at the WTO on the definitive anti-dumping duties imposed by the EU on exports of Argentine biodiesel.
The procedure opened by Argentina at the WTO, on 19 December, targets the EU's anti-dumping duties - ranging from 22% to 25.7% - imposed on Argentina's exports of biodiesel at the end of November. According to the Argentine biodiesel industry, the anti-dumping duties have resulted in a 75% decrease in its exports compared with 2012. The Argentine government announced in October that it would appeal for settlement of the dispute on measures which it believes are protectionist.
Established provisionally by the EU in May, then definitively (for a duration of five years) at the end of November, these taxes (which also hit Indonesian biodiesel - at higher levels) aim to re-establish a situation of fair competition in the face of dumping which comes, according to a Commission investigation, from a differential tax system on exports which was set up by Argentina (and Indonesia) in order to benefit their biodiesel. This system is based on the application of a higher tax for raw materials (Argentine soya beans and Indonesian palm oil) than for processed products based on these raw materials. According to the European biodiesel industry, this is an instrument which has enabled biodiesel from these two countries to cover 90% of the EU biodiesel imports and to monopolise a 30% share of the European market between 2010-2012 (see EUROPE 10853).
As the formal starting point of the dispute settlement procedure at the WTO, the consultations last for 60 days. At the end of this period, if a satisfactory solution is not found between the parties, the plaintiff can request that the issue be submitted to a special panel tasked with ruling on the complaint. (EH/transl.fl)