The TRA initiated investigations in March 2025 into Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) from the US due to concerns over subsidised imports causing injury to UK producers.
As of March 2026, the TRA proposed a final negative determination, meaning no countervailing measure will be imposed.
Domestic production
The UK has no dedicated HVO production, but established producers of FAME-based biodiesel originally flagged concerns over the impact of subsidised US imports on the uptake of domestic product.
The decision to initiate the TRA countervailing investigation followed the application from representatives of the U.K. biodiesel industry citing concerns that the market had changed since a previous review in 2022, resulting in imported HVO competing directly with U.K.-produced biodiesel.
A parallel investigation into dumped imports of HVO from the U.S. was terminated by the TRA in November 2025, due to a lack of significant evidence of dumping.
The TRA published its interim findings in its Statement of Essential Facts in November 2025, finding that these UK producers were suffering injury due to subsidised US HVO.
No benefit to US producers
However, after considering comments on these findings, the TRA found that the Blenders Tax Credit effectively ended before 15 October 2025 and no longer offers subsidisation to the US exporters.
Based on the evidence, the TRA has determined that it is unable to recommend a countervailing measure and intends to submit a final negative determination to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
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