The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) has made an affirmative final determination that an industry in the United States is materially injured by reason of imports of certain preserved mushrooms from Chile that the Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

The affirmative determination resulted from a 6-0 vote. 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.

As a result of the affirmative determination, 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 Chile. The petition concerned imports of certain preserved mushrooms from Chile, China, India, and Indonesia. In response to a request by respondents in the investigations involving China, India, and Indonesia, the Department of Commerce granted a postponement of its final determinations in those investigations. As a result, if Commerce makes an affirmative final determination in any of those investigations, the ITC's subsequent final injury determinations would take place in January 1999.

The Commission's public report Certain Preserved Mushrooms from Chile (Investigation No. 731-TA-776 (Final), USITC Publication 3144, November 1998) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

Copies may be requested after December 16, 1998, 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 this investigation 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 investigation:  Final antidumping.
2.  Petitioner:  Coalition for Fair Preserved Mushroom Trade.
3.  Investigation instituted by USITC:  January 6, 1998.
4.  Final phase of investigation scheduled by the USITC:  July 31, 1998.
5.  Commission's hearing:  October 15, 1998.
6.  USITC briefing and vote:  November 17, 1998.
7.  USITC determination to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  November 25, 1998.

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:  196.2 million pounds; $208.9 million.
5.  Ratio of total U.S. producers' shipments (by quantity) to total U.S. consumption 
         in 1997:  38 percent.

U.S. Imports:

1.  From Chile during 1997:  5.4 million pounds; $6.3 million.
2.  From all countries during 1997:  121.6 million; $118.6 million.
3.  Leading source during 1997:  China (in quantity and value).
4.  Ratio of total U.S. imports from Chile (by quantity) to total U.S consumption 
         in 1997:  2.8 percent.
5.  Ratio of total U.S. imports from all cumulated subject sources (Chile, China, and India) (by quantity)
         to total U.S. consumption in 1997:  44.1 percent.
6.  Ratio of total U.S. imports from all sources (by quantity) to total U.S. consumption 
         in 1997:  62 percent.