WTO to review EU import duties on Indonesian biodiesel

World Trade Organization's (WTO) dispute settlement body has agreed to set up a panel to review countervailing duties imposed by the European Union (EU) on imports of biodiesel from Indonesia.
Indonesia has requested WTO dispute consultations with the EU regarding the bloc's imposition of duties on imports of biodiesel from the Southeast Asia nation in August.
However after the consultation failed to reach an agreement, last month the world's biggest palm oil producer requested WTO to establish a dispute settlement body, which EU previously did not accept.
"Efforts to appeal this case to the WTO are very strategic to maintain market access for Indonesian biodiesel products in the EU market which is currently subject to countervailing duties of 8% to 18%," said Budi Santoso, senior official at Indonesian trade ministry.
The countervailing duties were imposed for five years on December 10, 2019 up to December 10, 2024, Budi added.
The Indonesian biofuel producers association said the duties have been burdening Indonesian biodiesel exporters and hoped for the WTO panel could immediately start the proceedings, the group chairperson Paulus Tjakrawan told Reuters.
The WTO said the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, the Russian Federation, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Canada, China, Argentina and Türkiye had reserved their third party rights to participate in the panel proceedings.