On Thursday 19 March, European producers of non-fuel and renewable ethanol called for stricter protection measures as part of the review of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), which grants preferential tariffs to third countries.
A provisional agreement reached in December 2025 by European co-legislators lowered the import increase threshold from 57% to 45% for sensitive products such as ethanol. ePURE (European Renewable Ethanol Association) and iEthanol (European Industrial & Beverage Ethanol Association) are now asking the European Parliament to go further by setting this threshold at 20% for very sensitive products (see EUROPE 13777/18).
EU producers face increasing global competition and legislation affecting the chemical, pharmaceutical and industrial chains.
Denatured (CN 2207 20) and undenatured ethyl alcohol (CN 2207 10) are particularly vulnerable, as demonstrated by the 197% increase in imports from Pakistan in 2022.
A lower protection threshold would enable the European Commission to react quickly to import peaks, ensuring fair competition and market stability while protecting a strategic sector in Europe, according to the organisations. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)