The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has agreed to Indonesia's request to review the European Union's (EU) countervailing duties on biodiesel imports from Indonesia, as reported by Biodiesel magazine.
In response to a request from the European Biodiesel Council on July 4, the EU launched an investigation in August to determine whether Indonesia had circumvented EU countervailing duties on the country's biodiesel imports by routing the fuel through China and the United Kingdom, according to the report.
Indonesia made two requests, certainly with a view to forming a panel to assess the compliance of countervailing duties with WTO rules. Biodiesel magazine reported the information on November 29th.
Previously, after the EU took a stance at the DSB meeting on October 26, Indonesia reaffirmed its right to national protection. The EU was urged to align its measures with the WTO.
The WTO reported that the EU considers the measures to be fully justified. Similarly, WTO legislation is expected by the EU to consider these with confidence.
However, the DSB agreed to form the panel. The USA, the United Kingdom, Norway, the Russian Federation, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Canada, China, Argentina and Turkey have reserved their third party rights. They will participate in the panel proceedings as indicated in the report.
Source: Oils & Fats International
