National Association of Truck Stop Owners speaks out against proposed duties on biodiesel imports

The National Association of Truck Stop Owners (NATSO) recently expressed concern about a preliminary determination by the Department of Commerce (DOC) that found that Argentina and Indonesia unfairly subsidize their production of biodiesel.

The determination means that importers must pay cash deposits to the U.S. government on biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia until a final ruling on duty rates is made.

NATSO expressed that the proposed duties would hinder access to biodiesel, make it more difficult to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel standards and result in higher biodiesel and diesel prices, which would increase the cost of shipping goods.

“This is exactly the wrong time to undercut a program that has largely been successful,” NATSO Vice President of Government Affairs David Fialkov said of the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard.

The Advanced Biofuels Association joined NATSO in expressing concern over the determination.

The National Biodiesel Board and 15 domestic biodiesel producers brought the countervailing duty case to the Commerce Department and petitioned DOC for relief from market distortions caused by subsidized imports

A final ruling on the issue is anticipated later this year or in early 2018 and will be followed by a final determination by the International Trade Commission. DOC will also make a preliminary determination later this year on whether Argentine and Indonesian biodiesel is being dumped in the United States at below fair-market value.