US ITC Votes 5-0 to Continue Probe into Imports of Argentine, Indonesian Biodiesel

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) voted 5-0 to continue the U.S. Commerce Department investigation into whether Argentine and Indonesian biodiesel has been dumped on the U.S. market with unfair subsidies.The next step in the probe is for the Commerce Department to determine whether to impose preliminary anti-dumping duties and anti-subsidy duties on the shipments. The agency launched the antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations in April at the request of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) Fair Trade Coalition.The decision "is an important next step for the US biodiesel producers suffering because of the flood of imports," said Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs at NBB.In 2016, imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia were valued at an estimated $1.2 billion and $268 million, respectively.The Commerce Department schedule is as follows: Announce a preliminary countervailing duty determinations in June 2017 and a preliminary AD determination in August 2017, though these dates may be extended.