US to Launch Probe into Argentina, Indonesia Biodiesel Imports
US trade body to probe Argentina and Indonesia biofuel imports
Washington/Jakarta, 25 Rajab 1438/22 April 2017 (MINA) – The United States said it would start an investigation into imports of biodiesel from Indonesia and Argentina for possible dumping and subsidisation last week.
The US International Trade Commission is scheduled to make a preliminary decision by May 8 on whether such imports hurt US producers, buenosairesherald.com reported, ciring the US commerce Department in a statement.
The step, just days ahead of a visit to Indonesia by US Vice President Mike Pence, comes after some US biodiesel producers last month asked their government to impose anti-dumping duties on imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia that they say have flooded the US market and violated trade agreements.
“The Indonesian government, especially the Trade Ministry, will be cooperative in the investigation by providing arguments and supportive data and documents to show that there was no dumping or subsidies,”
Oke Nurwan, Indonesia’s director-general for foreign trade, told Reuters.
Indonesia’s biodiesel group said it had asked its government to bring up the issue during Pence’s visit to Jakarta next week.
Argentine biodiesel exporters and manufacturers have also rebuffed the accusation.
“Now they have to prove everything that they are claiming, which is a sham. It’s a protectionist measure,” said Claudio Molina, head of Argentina’s Biofuels Association (AABH).
“We hope that the United States offers a fair process, which will show that there is no dumping or subsidies of Argentine biodiesel,” he added.
Argentina is the world’s No. 1 exporter of soyoil, used to make biodiesel. Indonesia is the world’s top producer of palm oil, which can also be used to churn out the fuel. Both countries rely heavily on resource exports.
Total US biodiesel imports rose to a record 916 million gallons (3.5 billion litres) in 2016, according to US government data published in March.
Argentina represented about two-thirds of US foreign imports, followed by Indonesia and Canada.
Facing pressure in Europe
Indonesia is also facing pressure in Europe, with its government filing a WTO complain against European Union anti-dumping duties on Indonesian biodiesel.
Meanwhile, the European parliament voted last week to call on the EU to phase out use of palm oil in biodiesel by 2020.
Indonesia, along with Malaysia, plans to send a joint mission to Europe next month to prevent the adoption of that resolution. (T/RS5/RS1(
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
