The United States Commerce Department has issued a preliminary decision lowering the countervailing duty on Argentinian biodiesel imports from 72 percent down to 10 percent. National Biodiesel Board director Greg Anderson, who farms in Nebraska, says if that decision holds up it essentially removes the countervailing duty that protects U.S. biodiesel.

He says soybean farmers as well as America’s biodiesel producers will be hit hard by the duty reduction at a time they can’t afford it.

Anderson says the Commerce Department decision is only a preliminary ruling and there may be a chance to get it changed.

The Commerce Department found that recent changes to Argentina’s export tax regime eliminated certain government subsidies provided to that country’s biodiesel producers.