EU opens review of US biodiesel anti-dumping and countervailing duties
The European Commission initiated a review on 17 June 2026 of its existing anti-dumping and countervailing duties on biodiesel imports from the United States, first imposed in 2021. Under EU trade-defence rules, these duties are subject to automatic expiry after five years unless a review determines that dumping, injury, or subsidisation would continue or recur if the measures were removed. This review will determine whether the current protective measures remain justified or should be modified or withdrawn.
Photo: Fahad Puthawala / PexelsEU reopens biodiesel trade-defence case against US suppliers
The European Commission has initiated a formal expiry review of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on US biodiesel, effective 17 June 2026, according to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1341 published in the EU Official Journal.
The review concerns two separate protective measures imposed in 2021:
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1266: definitive anti-dumping duty on biodiesel originating in the United States of America.
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1267: definitive countervailing duty on biodiesel originating in the United States of America.
Under Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 (the EU's anti-dumping Regulation) and Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1037 (the countervailing-duty Regulation), these duties automatically expire five years after imposition unless the Commission initiates and concludes a review demonstrating that the expiry would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping, injury, subsidisation, or material injury.
"Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1341 of 17 June 2026 initiating a review of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1266 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of biodiesel originating in the United States of America following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036."
The review is initiated on the basis that evidence suggests the removal of the duties would lead to continuation or recurrence of the practices and injury found in the original investigation. The Commission will examine pricing, market conditions, costs of production, and export behaviour by US biodiesel suppliers to the EU market.
Exporters, importers, and EU producers of biodiesel should expect the investigation to follow the standard timeline: parties may lodge written comments and requests to be heard; the Commission will issue a provisional finding within nine months of initiation (by mid-March 2027, typically); and a final determination will follow within 12 months (by mid-June 2027). During the review period, the existing duties remain in force.
What this means for shippers
Biodiesel exporters from the United States and EU importers must monitor the review proceedings and prepare evidence (production costs, sales data, export records) if they wish to defend their commercial interests. The existing duties on US biodiesel remain applicable throughout the review; importers must continue to account for these costs in landed-cost calculations. Failure to accurately declare duty liability exposes you to underpayment penalties and collection action. Review the review notice and register as an interested party if you are a producer, exporter, importer, or user of biodiesel.
