MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentina files complaint with WTO against EU duties on bio-diesel
Last month the EU slapped biodiesel duties at an average of 26.4% Argentina has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization against the European Union’s decision to impose anti-dumping duties on its biodiesel exports. The duties are “clearly protectionist” and will affect annual sales worth more than 1.5 billion, Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday on its website.
The 28-nation bloc slapped duties on Argentine and Indonesian biodiesel imports last month, saying producers have access to raw material at prices that are kept artificially low.
The WTO has 60 days to help the parties seek a solution, according to the statement. Failing that, Argentina will be able to request the formation of a panel of experts to resolve the issue.
The EU last month set biodiesel duties at an average of 24.6% for Argentina and imposed similar duties on Indonesian biodiesel.
“Instead of launching reforms to improve competitiveness, the European industry has sought and secured an administrative measure from Brussels, which is totally arbitrary and closes off the European market to competition from efficient biodiesel producers,” the ministry said in a statement.
The EU was the main buyer of Argentine biodiesel.
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Read all commentsYep, can't have miserable, economically unsound countries trying to undercut. Seen it before. Sell at a loss. Establish a market. Then hike the prices. Maybe argieland should think about that trade agreement with the EU. Agreements mean playing by the rules. That'll be a new one for argieland. But why should it care? Doesn't it want to be isolated?
Dec 20th, 2013 - 10:11 am 0So if Argentina paid their workers more to produce biodiesel (thus keeping more money in their economy and paying their own nationals more), then reflected that in the price so it cost more, the EU would most likely let Argentine bio fuel in.
Dec 20th, 2013 - 11:08 am 0Don't the Argentines see this?
The Rgs will lose, like they have done with every single case they have ever filed.
Dec 20th, 2013 - 12:53 pm 0The majority of the cases at WTO and ICSID are AGAINST Argentina. THey're just working through the system now.
A week or two more of this heat should just do the trick.
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