(January 23, 2013) WASHINGTON — In reaction to the European Commission's recent proposal to impose duties on ethanol imported from the United States, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy released the following joint statement:

“America’s producers and marketers of ethanol are outraged by the news that the European Commission has proposed to the European Council an anti-dumping duty equivalent to 62.3 Euro per tonne on all ethanol produced in the United States, regardless of who produces the product or who sells it.  This decision is unprecedented. Not only does it fly in the face of over 30 years of consistent practice by the EC, but it also violates numerous provisions of the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Antidumping.

“This proposal is legally vulnerable on numerous grounds,” said Bob Dinneen, President of the Renewable Fuels Association. “They selected six producers for investigation and none were found to be dumping; nonetheless, duties are being imposed.  In addition, all those producers not selected for review are also being penalized, again with no dumping having been found.”

Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, said, “we are exploring every option to overturn this decision.  Our producers and trading companies cooperated fully with the Commission’s requests for information.  In the end, it was all ignored in favor of what can only be described as a political decision to erect an artificial trade barrier.”

About the Renewable Fuels Association
The RFA is the national trade association for the U.S. ethanol industry. Since 1981, the RFA serves as the voice of the ethanol industry, providing advocacy, authoritative analysis, and important industry data to its members, Congress, federal and state government agencies, strategic partners, the media and other opinion-leader audiences. For more information visit www.EthanolRFA.org.

About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America's economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.

Press contact: Michael Frohlich at (202) 545-4000 or MFrohlich@growthenergy.org.