BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA — Argentina notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) secretariat on Aug. 17 of a request for consultations with the E.U. on Spanish restrictions for the import of biodiesel from Argentina.

Argentina claims that Spain put in a place a regulation in April that discriminates against biodiesel imports from Argentina in favor of those produced in the E.U.

The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.