The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today voted to conduct full five-year ("sunset") reviews concerning the antidumping duty orders on sugar and syrups from Canada (Inv. No. 731-TA-3 (Review)) and on sugar from the European Union (Inv. No. 104-TAA-7 (Review)) and Belgium, France and Germany (Invs. Nos. AA1921-198 200 (Review)).

As a result of today's votes, the Commission will conduct full reviews to determine whether revocation of the antidumping duty orders on sugar and syrups from Canada and on sugar from the European Union, Belgium, France, and Germany would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. The Commission's reviews in these cases will be completed no later than September 27, 1999, unless extended.

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the ITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (ITC). Reviews of outstanding antidumping and countervailing duty orders in existence as of January 1, 1995, began in July 1998.

The Commission's institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the ITC's notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.

The Commission's determinations to conduct full reviews resulted as follows.

With regard to sugar and syrups from Canada, the Commission's 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 concluded that both domestic and respondent group responses in this review were adequate and voted for a full review.

With regard to sugar from the European Union, the Commission's determination resulted from a 5-1 vote. Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller, and Commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman and Stephen Koplan concluded that domestic group responses for this review were adequate and respondent group responses were inadequate, but that circumstances warranted a full review. Commissioner Thelma J. Askey concluded that both domestic and respondent group responses for this review were inadequate, but that circumstances warranted a full review. Commissioner Carol T. Crawford concluded that domestic group responses for this review were adequate and respondent group responses were inadequate and voted for an expedited review.

With regard to sugar from Belgium, France, and Germany, the Commission's determinations resulted from 4-2 votes. Chairman Lynn M. Bragg concluded that domestic group responses in these reviews were adequate and that respondent group responses were inadequate, but that circumstances warranted full reviews. Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller and Commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman and Stephen Koplan concluded that both domestic and respondent group responses in these reviews were inadequate, but that circumstances warranted full reviews. Commissioners Carol T. Crawford and Thelma J. Askey concluded that both domestic and respondent group responses in these reviews were inadequate and voted for expedited reviews.

A record of the Commission's vote on these matters is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.

The record of the Commission's votes is also posted on the ITC's Internet server at www.usitc.gov (under "Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews"/"Five-Year Reviews Listing"/"Sugar and Syrups from Canada", "Sugar from the European Union", "Sugar from Belgium", "Sugar from France", and "Sugar from Germany").