UK Likely to Drop Anti-Subsidy Case Against US HVO Biodiesel

The UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) announced on March 12 that it intends to issue a final negative determination in its anti-subsidy investigation into US hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) biodiesel, meaning it will not recommend imposing countervailing duties on imports from the United States.

According to the TRA, after reviewing comments submitted by interested parties in response to the Statement of Essential Facts (SEF) and considering newly available public information, it concluded that the Blenders Tax Credit (BTC) subsidy programme no longer provides subsidisation to US exporters. In its interim findings published in November 2025, the TRA had previously determined that UK producers of fatty-acid mono-alkyl esters (FAME) biodiesel were suffering injury due to subsidised HVO imports from the United States.

However, following further assessment of industry feedback, the TRA determined that the BTC effectively ended before 15 October 2025, meaning it no longer confers a benefit to US exporters. Based on this conclusion, the authority cannot recommend countervailing measures and intends to submit a final negative determination to the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

The investigation covers the period from January to December 2024, with the injury period spanning 2021–2024. The case focuses on HVO biodiesel, also known as renewable or green diesel, which can serve as a substitute for conventional mineral diesel. While the UK has an established FAME biodiesel industry, it currently does not have dedicated HVO production capacity.