The Commerce Department said it will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect cash deposits from importers of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia based on these preliminary rates.
A final determination in the antidumping investigation will be announced on Jan. 3, 2018, unless it is postponed. If the Commerce Department makes affirmative final determinations of dumping and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) makes affirmative final injury determinations, the Commerce Department will issue antidumping orders. If negative final determinations are made or the ITC makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will be terminated and no orders will be issued.
Argentina has asked to suspend the antidumping and related countervailing duty investigations of biodiesel imports. The Commerce Department said it is working with interested parties on possible suspension agreements, but would only sign such agreements if they ensure that injury to the U.S. biodiesel industry is eliminated and the unfair trade practices are addressed.
In 2016, imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia were valued at an estimated $1.2 billion and $268 million, respectively.
The petitioner is the National Biodiesel Fair Trade Coalition, an ad hoc association composed of the National Biodiesel Board and 15 domestic producers of biodiesel.
