Trade Remedies Authority Recommendation Rejection: US-origin HVO Biodiesel Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
Jonathan Reynolds
Main Page: Jonathan Reynolds (Labour (Co-op) - Stalybridge and Hyde)Department Debates - View all Jonathan Reynolds's debates with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
Trade Remedies Authority Recommendation Rejection: US-origin HVO Biodiesel
Jonathan Reynolds Excerpts(2 weeks, 4 days ago)
Written StatementsRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (Jonathan Reynolds)
On 22 July 2026, the UK’s Trade Remedies Authority concluded a subsidy investigation on imports of US hydrotreated vegetable oil biodiesel, submitting to me its final determination. The TRA recommended that a definitive anti-subsidy measure be imposed, with fixed duties of between £257.80 and £266.68 per tonne, dependent on the US exporter. This recommendation was made on the basis that, in the period of investigation, UK domestic industry was being injured by subsidised US imports of HVO biodiesel.
In all investigations, the TRA is required to conduct the economic interest test. This assessment considers whether the imposition of a measure would be in the economic interests of the UK. In an investigation, this test is presumed to be met, unless there is clear evidence to the contrary. In this investigation, the TRA considered that a definitive measure would not be in the UK’s economic interests.
I recognise that the relevant World Trade Organisation evidentiary criteria for imposing a definitive anti-subsidy measure have been met. However, on balance, I judge that it would not be in the public interest to do so. I took this decision due to the significant scale by which the economic interest test was assessed by the TRA to have not been met. The TRA assessed that while a measure could provide some benefits to UK producers and upstream businesses, these would be significantly outweighed by the costs imposed on downstream businesses, importers and consumers. As a result, and on balance, I judge that the prospective injury case for UK producers and the benefits of imposing a measure are outweighed by the benefits of not imposing one for the UK’s wider economy.
The Government published a public notice on 10 September 2026 to give effect to this decision to not impose a definitive anti-subsidy measure on imports of US HVO biodiesel.
[HCWS329]