For Immediate Release: October 12, 2006
FACT SHEET
Commerce Initiates Antidumping Duty Investigations on Imports of Lemon Juice from Argentina and Mexico
• On October 12, Commerce announced its decision to initiate antidumping duty investigatio ns on imports of lemon juice from Argentina and Mexico.
• Sunkist Growers, Inc., (CA), is the petitioner for these investigations.
• The scope of these investigations includes certain lemon juice for further manufacture, with or without addition of preservatives, sugar, or other sweeteners, regardless of the grams per liter of citric acid (GPL) level of concentration, brix level, brix/acid ratio, pulp content, clarity, grade, horticulture method ( e.g. , organic or not), processed form ( e.g. , frozen or not-from-concentrate), FDA standard of identity, the size of the container in which packed, or the method of packing.
• Excluded from the scope of the investigation are: (1) lemon juice at any level of concentration packed in retail sized containers ready for sale to consumers, typically at a level of concentration of 48 GPL; and (2) beverage products such as lemonade that typically contain 20% or less lemon juice as an ingredient.
• Lemon juice is classifiable under subheadings 2009.39.6020, 2009.31.6020, 2009.31.4000, 2009.31.6040, and 2009.39.6040 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). While HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and Customs purposes, our written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.
NEXT STEPS
• The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determination on or about November 6, 2006.
• If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports from Argentina and Mexico are injuring or threatening material injury to the domestic industry, the investigations would continue, and the Department would be scheduled to make its preliminary antidumping duty determinations in February 2007.
• If the ITC makes a negative preliminary injury determination, the investigations will be terminated.
Initiated Dumping Margins :
COUNTRY |
MARGIN |
Argentina |
102.46% |
Mexico |
134.22% |
Case Calendar:
EVENT |
DATE |
Petition Filed |
September 21, 2006 |
DOC Initiation Date |
October 11, 2006 |
ITC Preliminary Determination |
November 6, 2006 |
DOC Preliminary Determination* |
February 28, 2007 |
DOC Final Determination* |
May 14, 2007 |
ITC Final Determination** |
June 28, 2007 |
Issuance of Order*** |
July 5, 2007 |
* These deadlines may be extended under the governing statute.
** This will take place only in the event of a final affirmative determination from the Department of Commerce.
*** This will take place only in the event of final affirmative determinations by both the Department and the ITC.
Import Statistics :
Argentina |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
Volume (Liters) |
60,521,950 |
31,995,007 |
56,448,334 |
Value ($US) |
$10,732,958 |
$6,499,827 |
$9,434,899 |
|
|
|
|
Mexico |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
Volume (Liters) |
28,927,184 |
28,565,272 |
28,873,058 |
Value ($US) |
$5,672,028 |
$5,461,094 |
$3,797,729 |
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Dataweb (HTS 2009.39.6020, 2009.31.6020, 2009.31.4000, 2009.31.6040, and 2009.39.6040)