NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paul Winters
202-737-8801
pwinters@biodiesel.org
WASHINGTON, DC - The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) today welcomed the Department of Commerce's final determination in its "changed circumstances review" of antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on imports of Argentine biodiesel. Commerce determined that there are no "changed circumstances" that would warrant changes in U.S. duty rates. As a result, the rates on biodiesel imports from Argentina will remain at their current levels.
Kurt Kovarik, NBB's VP of Federal Affairs, said, "NBB's Fair Trade Coalition fought hard for this outcome, and we certainly appreciate Secretary Wilbur Ross and the Trump administration for supporting U.S. biodiesel producers at a critical moment. We are grateful for their consistent willingness to listen to the U.S. biodiesel industry. The Department of Commerce took the time necessary to fully evaluate the status of Argentina's export tax regime and make the right decision.
"Also critical to this outcome is the support and leadership of Senators Chuck Grassley and Maria Cantwell along with Representative Darren LaHood. We greatly appreciate their steadfast support for the U.S. biodiesel industry and America's soybean farmers. U.S. biodiesel producers appreciate their help in amplifying the industry’s push for fair trade conditions."
- In January 2018, following a lengthy investigation that found U.S. biodiesel producers were harmed by unfair trade practices, Commerce finalized antidumping and countervailing duty rates on Argentine biodiesel imports. The combined AD and CVD rates range from 132.72% to 157.86%.
- In November 2018, Commerce granted Argentina's request for a "changed circumstances" review, based on that government's alleged changes in its export tax regime.
- In July 2019, Commerce issued a preliminary decision that would have virtually eliminated CVD rates for Argentina's biodiesel producers, while maintaining AD rates.
- Today, Commerce is issuing its final determination, maintaining both AD and CVD rates. The final determination will be published in the Federal Register at a later date.
Made
from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil,
soybean oil and animal fats, biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning diesel
replacement that can be used in existing diesel engines without modification.
It is the nation's first domestically produced, commercially available advanced
biofuel. NBB is the U.S. trade association representing the entire biodiesel
and renewable diesel value chain, including producers, feedstock suppliers, and
fuel distributors.
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For more about biodiesel, visit www.biodiesel.org.