WTO Roundup: New Safeguard Consultation Requests on US Tariffs, Biodiesel Case Update

The past few weeks have seen a series of developments within WTO dispute settlement, including the filing of new cases as well as the release of a long-awaited panel report on European duties involving imported biodiesel from Indonesia. Outside the realm of formal dispute settlement, China, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea have all tabled requests over the past week for consultations on the US’ new global safeguard duties, which affect imported solar cells and modules as well as residential washing machines. Biodiesel disputes move forward In recent weeks, the row between the European Union and two of the world’s top biodiesel exporters, namely Argentina and Indonesia, has seen some significant developments – both within WTO dispute settlement and in the EU judicial system. The EU had begun investigating imports of biodiesel from both countries in 2012, following industry complaints which alleged that the fuel was being sold on the European market at prices below normal value – a practice known as dumping. The bloc ultimately deemed that dumping was occurring and was causing material injury to the EU’s own producers, and moved to impose anti-dumping duties as a result. The EU move prompted both Buenos Aires and Jakarta to file...