Peru reverses import duty decision on US biofuels

Peru has dumped plans for a 15% duty on bioethanol products into the South American country.
The Peruvian National Institute for the Defence of Free Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI) Tribunal announced that the US ethanol industry and the US government have won an appeal on a countervailing duty case brought against US ethanol in Peru.
This reverses a previous decision handed down by Peruvian authorities that applied duty on US ethanol and resulted in loss of market access in the country.
Growth Energy, the US Grains Council (USGC) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) participated extensively in this case, arguing at hearings in both the initial investigation and the appeal in Peru on behalf of the US ethanol industry.
Emily Skor, CEO, Growth Energy, Ryan LeGrand, President and CEO, US Grains Council and Geoff Cooper, President and CEO, Renewable Fuels Association, welcomed the decision.
In a statement the trio said: “We appreciate the thoroughness of the Competition Tribunal’s analysis, and the careful review process followed in Peru. This is a welcome development for our US ethanol producers and our valued customers in Peru.
“We are pleased that Peruvian authorities reached the right result, and we look forward to continuing our close work with Peru to further enhance our mutually beneficial trade relationship development efforts, including urging them to increase their blend rate beyond 7.8%. Doing so would also help Peru to meet its Paris Agreement commitments and lead to opening more global trade of ethanol.
“The US ethanol industry remains focused on expanding the global use of low-carbon ethanol, reducing barriers to trade, and elevating the energy discussion, and we favour continued collaboration and cooperation with Peru and other nations that share the vision of a free and open global ethanol market.”