China Floods US with Potentially Tainted Cooking Oil, Threatening Biofuel Industry and Biden’s Climate Goals
In a concerning development for the biofuel industry and President Joe Biden’s climate-friendly energy agenda, China has been flooding the US with used cooking oil that may be tainted. This surge in imports of used cooking oil, a key ingredient in renewable diesel production, has more than tripled in 2023 compared to the previous year, with over 50% of the supplies coming from China, according to the US International Trade Commission.
Industry groups and biofuel executives are growing increasingly worried that a significant portion of these imports may be fraudulent, raising concerns about the integrity of the renewable fuel supply chain. The European biofuel industry had previously expressed similar concerns about cooking oil from China, highlighting a global issue that is now impacting American farmers and biofuel producers.
The potential presence of tainted used cooking oil in the US market poses a threat to American farmers who rely on feedstocks like fresh soybean oil for green diesel production. The competition from cheaper and potentially fraudulent imports could undermine the profitability of domestic agriculture companies and jeopardize their expansion plans.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been in discussions with industry stakeholders about the increased imports of used cooking oil and other food wastes. The agency is aware of the potential risks associated with these imports and is working to ensure compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard Program, which mandates the blending of biofuels into the nation’s fuel supply.
As concerns mount over the influx of potentially tainted cooking oil from China, industry groups and government agencies are stepping up efforts to address the issue and protect the integrity of the biofuel supply chain. The surge in imports from China has raised suspicions and prompted calls for tighter scrutiny to prevent fraudulent practices that could undermine the renewable fuel industry and trade relations between the US and China.