INHALT

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/835 of 5 May 2025 imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of biodiesel originating in Argentina following an expiry review pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1037 of the European Parliament and of the Council

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2025/835
of 5 May 2025
imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of biodiesel originating in Argentina following an expiry review pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1037 of the European Parliament and of the Council
1.
PROCEDURE
1.1.
Previous investigations and measures in force
1.2.
Request for an expiry review
1.3.
Initiation of an expiry review
1.4.
Review investigation period and period considered
1.5.
Interested parties
1.6.
Comments on initiation
1.7.
Sampling
1.7.1.
Sampling of Union producers
1.7.2.
Sampling of importers
1.7.3.
Sampling of exporting producers in Argentina
1.8.
Replies to the questionnaire and verification
2.
PRODUCT UNDER REVIEW, PRODUCT CONCERNED AND LIKE PRODUCT
2.1.
Product under review
2.2.
Product concerned
2.3.
Like product
2.4.
Claims regarding product scope
3.
LIKELIHOOD OF CONTINUATION OF SUBSIDISATION
3.1.
Subsidies and subsidy programmes within the scope of the investigation
3.2.
Background on the GOA’s preferential policies for the biodiesel industry during the review investigation period
3.3.
Schemes originally investigated and countervailed
3.3.1.
Government’s support to the biodiesel industry including through the provision of soybeans for less than adequate remuneration
3.3.1.1.
The application of the provisions of Article 28(1) of the basic Regulation
3.3.1.2.
Analysis
3.3.1.3.
Financial contribution
3.3.1.3.1. Entrustment or direction of the soybean growers by the Government of Argentina
Graph 1
Argentinian production of soybeans, maize, and wheat per harvesting year
3.3.1.3.2. Entrustment or direction of private bodies within the meaning of Article 3(1)(a)(iv) of the basic Regulation
3.3.1.3.3. Provision of soybeans by soybean growers for less than adequate remuneration
Graph 2
Soybean processing in Argentina
Graph 3
Argentinian domestic price versus world market price
3.3.1.3.4. The function which would normally be vested in the government and the practice, which, in no real sense, differs from practices normally followed by governments
3.3.1.3.5. Conclusion on financial contribution
3.3.1.4.
Income or price support
3.3.1.4.1. The GOA’s intention to support the domestic biodiesel industry
3.3.1.4.2. Supporting measures to the biodiesel industry
3.3.1.4.3. The set of measures adopted by the GOA qualifies as ‘any form of income/price support’ in the sense of Article XVI of the GATT 1994
3.3.1.4.4. Conclusion on income or price support
3.3.1.5.
Benefit
3.3.1.6.
Specificity
3.3.1.7.
Conclusion
3.3.1.8.
Calculation of the subsidy amount
3.3.2.
Provincial tax exemptions provided by the province of Santa Fe
3.3.2.1.
Financial contribution
3.3.2.2.
Benefit
3.3.2.3.
Specificity
3.3.2.4.
Calculation of the subsidy amount
3.4.
Schemes originally investigated for which no benefit was found
3.4.1.
Provision of loans and export financing on preferential terms and preferential lending
3.4.1.1.
Findings of the investigation
3.4.1.2.
Conclusion
3.4.2.
Government revenue forgone or not collected under the 2006 Biofuels Law
3.4.2.1.
Findings of the investigation
3.4.2.2.
Conclusion
3.4.3.
Provincial tax exemptions provided by the province of Cordoba
3.4.3.1.
Findings of the investigation
3.4.3.2.
Conclusion
3.4.4.
Provincial tax exemptions provided by the province of Buenos Aires
3.4.4.1.
Findings of the investigation
3.4.4.2.
Conclusion
3.4.5.
Province of Santiago del Estero System of Promotion and Industrial Development (PSPID) – Provincial Law 6750
3.4.5.1.
Findings of the investigation
3.4.5.2.
Conclusion
3.5.
New schemes
3.5.1.
Direct transfer of funds: Financing programme for working capital in the biodiesel industry
3.5.1.1.
Findings of the investigation
3.5.1.2.
Conclusion
3.5.2.
Revenue foregone through the new Biofuels Law 27640 of 2021
3.5.2.1.
Findings of the investigation
3.5.2.2.
Conclusion
3.6.
Conclusion on subsidisation
3.7.
Likelihood of continuation of subsidisation
3.7.1.
Future developments of the GOA’s policy
3.7.2.
Production capacity and spare capacity in Argentina
3.7.3.
Attractiveness of the Union market
3.7.4.
Possible absorption capacity by third country markets
3.7.5.
Conclusion on the likelihood of continuation of subsidisation
4.
INJURY
4.1.
Definition of the Union industry and Union production
4.2.
Union consumption
4.3.
Imports from the country concerned
4.3.1.
Volume and market share of the imports from the country concerned
4.3.2.
Prices of the imports from the country concerned and price undercutting
4.4.
Imports from third countries other than Argentina
4.5.
Economic situation of the Union industry
4.5.1.
General remarks
4.5.2.
Macroeconomic indicators
4.5.2.1.
Production, production capacity and capacity utilisation
4.5.2.2.
Sales volume and market share
4.5.2.3.
Growth
4.5.2.4.
Employment and productivity
4.5.2.5.
Magnitude of the subsidisation margin and recovery from past dumping/countervailable practices
4.5.3.
Microeconomic indicators
4.5.3.1.
Prices and factors affecting prices
4.5.3.2.
Labour costs
4.5.3.3.
Inventories
4.5.3.4.
Profitability, cash flow, investments, return on investments and ability to raise capital
4.6.
Conclusion on injury
5.
CAUSATION
5.1.
Effects of the subsidised imports
5.2.
Conclusion on causation
6.
LIKELIHOOD OF RECURRENCE OF INJURY CAUSED BY IMPORTS FROM ARGENTINA
7.
UNION INTEREST
7.1.
Interest of the Union industry
7.2.
Interest of unrelated importers, traders and distributors
7.3.
Interest of users and consumers
7.4.
Other factors
7.5.
Conclusion on Union interest
8.
COUNTERVAILING MEASURES
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3
Article 4
ANNEX 1
ANNEX 2
Export undertaking certificate
ANNEX 3