EU bioethanol producers seek US subsidy investigation.

摘要

An investigation has been requested by EU bioethanol producers to find if US exporters have been receiving illegal subsithes, which could trigger import tariffs on the fuel. "Massive and sudden imports of US ethanol, combined with unfairly low prices over the last few years, have seriously damaged the economic situation of European producers," said Rob Vierhout, secretary general of European ethanol assoc. ePURE. "The unfair competition of US imports is simply depriving the EU industry of the benefit of this positive evolution in its own domestic market," Vierhout added. Cold weather and smaller fields in Europe compared to those in the US and Brazil have put the region's producers in a difficult situation. The EU imposed tariffs in 2008 of up to ?400/mt ($552/mt) on US biothesel, and then extended it to Canadian supplies in 2009.