RFA, Growth Energy Applaud Court Decision Annulling U.S. Ethanol AntiDumping Duty

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy are pleased with today’s decision by a European court to annul the European Union’s (EU) countrywide 9.5 percent antidumping duty on all ethanol imported from the United States. The duty had been in place since February 2013.

The EU General Court ruled that the five-year antidumping duty, of $83.03 per metric ton, was invalid because the European Commission was required by EU law to give each sampled U.S. company its own antidumping rate. Instead, the EC based its country-wide rate on all parties, even though the majority of them were never properly sampled, in direct violation of both the European Commission’s own rules and longstanding WTO precedent.

In May 2013, RFA and Growth Energy filed a joint complaint, outlining violations by the European Commission in its antidumping investigation. The antidumping duty had effectively shut out U.S. ethanol producers from accessing the European market, which before the penalty was imposed had represented a 300 million gallon market for our industry.

“The antidumping duty should have never been assessed,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “We feel vindicated and thank the EU General Court for its commonsense ruling.”

“From the beginning, we believed the implementation of an EU duty on imported ethanol violated EU law,” said Emily Skor, Growth Energy CEO. “We would like to thank the EU General Court for its fair and logical ruling, and are pleased with their decision.”

However, the antidumping duty remains in place, pending a possible appeal by the EU. The EU has approximately two months to file an appeal.

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About Growth Energy
Growth Energy represents the producers and supporters of ethanol who feed the world and fuel America in ways that achieve energy independence, improve economic well-being and create a healthier environment for all Americans now. For more information, visit GrowthEnergy.org

About the Renewable Fuels Association
The Renewable Fuels Association is the leading trade association for America’s ethanol industry. Its mission is to advance the development, production, and use of ethanol fuel by strengthening America’s ethanol industry and raising awareness about the benefits of renewable fuels. RFA’s members are working to help America become cleaner, safer, more energy independent and economically secure. For more information, visit EthanolRFA.org.