UK launches investigations into imports of US renewable diesel

Ron Kotrba

Mar 182 min read

The U.K. Trade Remedies Authority initiated an antidumping investigation and a countervailing investigation March 17 into imports of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, from the United States.

The investigations follow applications from U.K. biodiesel producers concerned that the market has changed since a previous review in 2022.

Applications were submitted by:

Renewable Transport Fuel Association.

Greenergy Fuels Ltd.

Argent Energy Ltd.

Olleco

TRA said recent evidence suggests that the price gap has narrowed and HVO may now be competing directly with U.K.-produced biodiesel.

The investigations will determine whether imports of HVO are being sold at unfairly low prices or being subsidized and causing harm to the U.K. industry.

The TRA press release states that the period of investigation for these cases will be between April 2023 and March 2024, but the documents to which the press release links state the period of investigation is Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024.

TRA said those wishing to contribute to this investigation of U.K. imports of HVO from the U.S. should visit the TRA public file.

Anyone who wants to participate in the investigation can register their interest through the Trade Remedies Service here by April 1.

Those who register their interest after April 1 may not be able to participate fully in the investigation process.

Once registered, interested parties and contributors can submit comments on any issues relevant to the investigation through the Trade Remedies Service.

Interested parties may include:

The U.S. government.

Any overseas exporter or importer of HVO.

Any overseas producer of HVO.

Any trade or business association of overseas producers, overseas exporters or importers of HVO.

Any producer of the like goods in the U.K.

Any trade or business association of U.K. producers of the like goods.

Contributors are considered those who aren’t interested parties and who have notified TRA that they would like to participate in the investigation.

TRA is the U.K. body that investigates whether new trade-remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.

The TRA is an arm’s-length body of the U.K. Department for Business and Trade.

U.K. industries concerned about imports have been able to submit applications for a new trade-remedy measure since January 2021.

These applications are considered by TRA to see if there are grounds for an investigation.