On 22 July 2026, the UK’s Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) concluded a subsidy investigation on imports of US hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) biodiesel, submitting to me their final determination. The TRA recommended that a definitive anti-subsidy measure be imposed with fixed duties between £257.80 - £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 interest of the UK. In an investigation, this test 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 interest.

I recognise that the relevant World Trade Organization evidentiary criteria to impose 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 is 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.

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2026-09-10.hcws329.0