EU ethanol producers push for tighter safeguards
Producers point to rising competition from countries benefiting from preferential tariffs.
European renewable ethanol producers are urging lawmakers to strengthen safeguards in the EU’s revision of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), warning that current proposals may fall short of protecting a sector they consider strategically important.
The draft agreement reached by EU governments and MEPs in December 2025 would lower the threshold for triggering safeguard measures on sensitive products, including renewable ethanol, from a 57% increase in import volumes to 45%. Industry representatives, however, argue that this level remains too high to prevent market disruption and are calling for a 20% trigger for what they describe as “highly sensitive” goods.
Producers point to rising competition from countries benefiting from preferential tariffs, combined with pressure from the EU‑Mercosur trade deal and uneven implementation of EU biofuel policies. They argue that domestic ethanol production supports climate goals, energy security, and rural economies, and that sudden import surges could undermine those contributions.
