The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) has made affirmative final determinations that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain preserved mushrooms from China, India, and Indonesia that the Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

The affirmative determinations concerning China and India resulted from 6-0 votes. Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller, and Commissioners Carol T. Crawford, Jennifer A. Hillman, Stephen Koplan, and Thelma J. Askey voted in the affirmative.

The affirmative determination concerning Indonesia resulted from a 4-2 vote. Chairman Bragg, Vice Chairman Miller, and Commissioners Hillman and Koplan voted in the affirmative. Commissioners Crawford and Askey voted in the negative.

As a result of the affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will direct the U.S. Customs Service to impose antidumping duties on this product.

Today's vote concerned imports of certain preserved mushrooms from China, India, and Indonesia. The petition concerned imports of certain preserved mushrooms from Chile, China, India, and Indonesia. The Commission made an affirmative final determination concerning imports of certain preserved mushrooms from Chile on November 17, 1998.

The Commission's public report Certain Preserved Mushrooms from China, India, and Indonesia (Investigations Nos. 731-TA-777-779 (Final), USITC Publication 3159, February 1999) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

Copies may be requested after March 4, 1999, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: The imported products subject to these investigations are certain preserved mushrooms of the species Agaricus bisporus and Agaricus bitorquis, whether imported whole, sliced, diced, or as stems and pieces. "Preserved mushrooms" refers to mushrooms that have been prepared or preserved by cleaning, blanching, and sometimes slicing or cutting. These mushrooms are then packed and heated in containers, including but not limited to cans or glass jars, in a suitable liquid medium that may include, but is not limited to, water, brine, or butter (or butter sauce). Included within the scope of the petition are "brined" mushrooms, which are presalted and packed in a heavy salt solution to provisionally preserve them for further processing. Excluded from the scope of the investigations are: (1) all other species of mushroom, including straw mushrooms; (2) all fresh and chilled mushrooms, including "refrigerated or "quick blanched" mushrooms; (3) dried mushrooms; (4) frozen mushrooms; and, (5) "marinated," "acidified," or "pickled" mushrooms, which are prepared or preserved by means of vinegar or acetic acid, but may contain oil or other additives.

Status of Proceedings:

1.  Type of investigations:  Final antidumping.
2.  Petitioner:  Coalition for Fair Preserved Mushroom Trade.
3.  Investigations instituted by USITC:  January 6, 1998.
4.  Final phase of investigations scheduled by the USITC:  July 31, 1998.
5.  Commission's hearing:  October 15, 1998.
6.  USITC briefing and vote:  February 3, 1999.
7.  USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  February 11, 1999.

U.S. Industry:

1.  Number of producers in 1997:  Eleven
2.  Location of producers' plants:  California, Delaware, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
3.  Employment of production and related workers in 1997:  421
4.  Apparent U.S. consumption in 1997:  204.5 million pounds; $218.0 million.
5.  Ratio of total U.S. producers' shipments (by quantity) to total U.S. consumption 
       in 1997:  36.5 percent.

U.S. Imports:

1.  From China, India, and Indonesia during 1997:  112.8 million pounds; $105.7 million.
2.  From all countries during 1997:  129.9 million pounds; $127.7 million.
3.  Leading source during 1997:  China (in quantity and value).
4.  Ratio of total U.S. imports from China, India, and Indonesia (by quantity) to total U.S consumption 
       in 1997:  55.2 percent.
5.  Ratio of total U.S. imports from all cumulated subject sources (Chile, China, India, and Indonesia)      
       (by quantity) to total U.S. consumption in 1997:  57.8 percent.
6.  Ratio of total U.S. imports from all sources (by quantity) to total U.S. consumption 
       in 1997:  63.5 percent.