The World Trade Organization ruled on Tuesday in favor of several claims by Argentina against anti-dumping duties imposed on its biodiesel imports by the European Union, but said the EU regulation at the heart of the dispute did not violate WTO rules.

The ruling by a WTO dispute panel in the case, begun in late 2013, called on the EU to bring its measures into conformity. Both sides have 60 days to appeal.

Argentina, a major exporter of biodiesel, called the EU measures protectionist. The EU argued that Argentina was "dumping" or selling biodiesel at below the cost of production and harming local producers.

Argentina's Foreign Ministry issued a statement welcoming the ruling. It said being blocked from the European Union had cost the country almost $1.6 billion in lost biodiesel sales per year.

A separate case brought by Indonesia against EU anti-dumping duties on imports of biodiesel from Jakarta is pending at the Geneva-based trade watchdog.

The WTO panel rejected Argentina's claim that a central article of the EU regulation "as such" violated the WTO's anti-dumping agreement, but upheld other claims that the EU had acted inconsistently with the pact.

"We see this as excellent news," said Luis Zubizarreta, head of Argentina's biodiesel industry chamber, CARBIO. "The European Union's decision regarding Argentine biodiesel was unjust," he added. "Now we'll be able to reopen a market that we had developed very well." Zubizarreta said the decision would help fortify demand for Argentine soybeans, which are used to make biodiesel. The EU anti-dumping duties were imposed after then-President Cristina Fernandez ordered the seizure of Argentina's top energy company, YPF, from its previous parent, Spain's Repsol.

There was no immediate comment from the EU.