EU: Prohibitive Duties on Chinese Exports Remain
This time it is biofuels exported from China that are on Brussels's radar
The trade war, launched against China under the US scenario by the European Union, which accuses the Chinese government of subsidizing manufacturers that practice unfair trade policies and bring European competitors to their knees through dumping, is heating up.
After applying customs restrictions to Chinese exports of electric cars, this time it is Chinese fuel that is on the EU’s radar: Brussels has imposed “temporary” duties on biodiesel imports from China. The duties were imposed as part of an anti-dumping investigation launched by the European Commission following complaints from European biodiesel producers.
In an official statement, the European Commission said that “the EU imposes a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of fatty acid monoalkyl esters and/or paraffinic gas oils obtained by synthesis and/or hydrotreating, of non-fossil origin, known as ‘biodiesel,’ in pure form or as blends.”
Duties range from 12.8% to 36.4% depending on the manufacturer. Measures are initially imposed for six months, after which they may be reclassified as permanent and extended for up to five years. The European Commission’s decision threatens to seriously damage the EU energy market: EU countries do not produce enough diesel fuel – up to 80% is imported, of which so far 60% of supplies are guaranteed by China.
Moreover, Brussels’s tough measures will slow down the much-vaunted “energy transition.” On August 10, International Biodiesel Day was celebrated around the world. Biodiesel is a biofuel, that is, fuel derived from renewable sources, such as vegetable oils and animal fats, similar to diesel fuel derived from petroleum. Contrary to popular belief, biodiesel is not pure and simple vegetable oil, such as rapeseed oil, but the result of a chemical process (transesterification with methanol) coming from some biological components. Pure biodiesel, designated BD100 or B100, can be used in any diesel engine, although diesel fuel with lower concentrations of biodiesel is more commonly used.
From an environmental point of view, biodiesel somewhat differs from diesel and is less polluting: it reduces CO2 emissions by 50%, contains no aromatic hydrocarbons, has no sulfur dioxide emissions, and reduces fine particulate emissions by up to 65%.
