07/02/2019 (Agence Europe) – On 30 January, the Member States and the European Commission agreed on two actions targeting imports of Argentine biodiesel (see EUROPE 12184). On the one hand, they decided to impose anti-subsidy duties on these imports, and on the other hand, they suggested to Argentina a price commitment agreement that would open the European market to a quota of 1.2 million tonnes of biodiesel, exempting producers accepting a minimum price from additional duties. The agreement is far from pleasing to the Copa-Cogeca agricultural organization, which has said it is "seriously concerned" about these quotas. In a statement dated 1 February, Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen called on the Commission to "closely monitor the implementation of the price commitment agreement" and to apply, in the event of termination of the agreement by Argentina, "an agreed general countervailing duty rate of 30%” to all its biodiesel imports. (HD)