In 2018, the U.S. Commerce Department finalized antidumping and countervailing duties on biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia, following a successful trade case by Clean Fuels' Fair Trade Coalition. With fair trade protections in place, U.S. domestic biodiesel production increased substantially from 2018 to 2020.

In September 2018, the Government of Argentina asked for a "changed circumstances" review of the countervailing and antidumping duties, and on November 5, 2018, Commerce initiated the review. After a lengthy and thorough review of ongoing changes to Argentina's tax and subsidy rates, Commerce on May 12, 2020, issued a redetermination maintaining the countervailing and antidumping duties.

Both Argentina and Indonesia have filed suits in the U.S. Court of International Trade to challenge Commerce's determinations. Clean Fuels' Fair Trade Coalition continues to participate in the legal proceedings, arguing to uphold the duties.

Clean Fuels also works to inform Representatives and Senators, especially members of Congressional oversight committees, of threats to fair trade in the biodiesel industry.

As our members communicate with Commerce and other Washington policymakers, Members of Congress, the media, and the public, Clean Fuels works with them to amplify these points:

• U.S. biodiesel producers were substantially harmed by the actions of Argentine biodiesel producers, who sold their product below fair value and received massive government subsidies.
• Argentina continues to subsidize its domestic producers by artificially reducing the cost of soybean oil – which represents 90 percent of the cost of biodiesel – within the country. Argentine biodiesel producers can still sell product below world market prices.
• Argentina has changed its tax rates on biodiesel exports multiple times in the last few years and continues to do so. Commerce must maintain important trade protections.

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