BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Argentina filed a formal complaint Thursday at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against an EU anti-dumping measure on its biodiesel exports.

"The manifest illegality of the measure decided by the European Union, its purely protectionist nature and the economic harm it causes the Argentine biodiesel industry, have without hesitation required the relevant actions within the scope of the WTO to satisfy the demand of the Argentine government," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said the anti-dumping measure permanently applied by the EU starting Nov. 27, covers a cost range of between 216.64 to 245.67 euros per ton, "leading to the direct and immediate closing of the European market to Argentine biodiesel."

The measure costs Argentina as many as 1.5 billion U.S. dollars a year, according to the ministry.

Argentina's motion at the WTO opens a 60-day period for talks between the two sides in an attempt to find a mutually agreeable solution to the trade dispute.

If there is no agreement by that time, "Argentina will be able to request the establishment of a Special Group of experts to resolve the dispute,"the ministry explained.

"Argentina is the world's leading producer of biodiesel. The European (biodiesel) industry, on the other hand, is overrated and lacks the availability of raw material and level of vertical integration that distinguishes (Argentina's) industry."

Argentina claims that "instead of implementing reforms to improve its competitiveness, the European industry has sought to protect itself through an administrative measure in Brussels and succeeded."

Source: Xinhua