A briefing note by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) (International trade in biofuels: Good for development? And good for environment?) comments that barriers to trade in biofuels are blocking the possible benefits of this alternative fuel. "The many sustainable development potentials associated with biofuels are contingent upon international trading, since the most efficient producing countries are or will be developing countries, while the main consumers are industrialized countries," states the author, Annie Dufey. The briefing explains that there are several barriers that prevent developing countries from becoming more competitive suppliers of biofuels. These include high tariffs and subsidies levied by developed countries like the United States, the fact that biofuels are not clearly classified within the multilateral trading system, and the different technical and environmental standards and regulations that are applied to biofuels with little consultation with producer countries.

International trade in biofuels: Good for development? And good for environment? is available online:
http://www.iied.org/pubs/display.php?o=11068IIED.