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October 5, 2001
Commerce Department Announces Preliminary Dumping Margins in the Antidumping Case Against Canadian Greenhouse Tomatoes
On October 1, 2001, the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) announced its preliminary determination that greenhouse tomatoes from Canada are being, or are likely being sold in the United States at less than fair value. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) had earlier issued a preliminary determination in May that the imports were causing, or threatened to cause, injury to the U.S. industry. The preliminary dumping margins, which vary depending on the specific exporter/grower, range from "zero" to 50.75 percent. According to ITA, it is expected that the dumping duties would begin being collected on product entering the United States by the end of the week of October 1. ITA has indicated it will make its final determination no later than 75 days after the date of this preliminary determination. During CY 2000, imports of greenhouse tomatoes into the United States from Canada totaled 48,457 tons valued at $78 million. Greenhouse tomatoes now account for approximately 50 percent of the total volume of Canadian tomatoes shipped into the United States.
Commerce Department Announces Final Determinations in Antidumping Duty Investigation of Honey from Argentina and China and Countervailing Duty Investigation on Honey from Argentina
On September 27, the DOC announced its final determinations in the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations of honey from Argentina and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It was found that imports of honey from Argentina and the People’s Republic of China are being sold in the United States at less than fair value and that exporters/producers of honey from Argentina have received countervailable subsidies from the Government of Argentina. These investigations were initiated by the American Honey Producers Association and the Sioux Honey Association on October 26, 2000. The DOC set antidumping duties (AD) against Argentine shippers ranging from 32.56 percent to 60.67 percent. The DOC set an additional 4.53 percent countervailing duty (CVD) rate against Argentine honey. With regard to China, antidumping duties were set between 25.88 percent to 183.8 percent. According to U.S. import data, the unit value of Argentine honey fell from approximately $1,525 per ton in 1997 to $952 per ton in 2000. Similarly, unit values of Chinese honey fell from $1,613/ton to $1,264/ton during the same time period.
Commerce Department Institutes Five-year "Sunset" Review on the Suspended Antidumping Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico
On October 1, 2001, the DOC announced that it is initiating a five-year "sunset" review of the suspended antidumping investigation (Tomato Suspension Agreement), to determine whether termination of the suspended investigation on fresh tomatoes from Mexico would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) published a concurrent notice of Institution of a Five-year Review covering this same suspended investigation. Domestic interested parties wishing to participate in this Sunset Review must respond no later than October 16, 2001. The U.S. tomato industry is generally in favor of a rollover agreement with some adjustments. The original agreement, signed on November 1, 1996, by the DOC and Mexican tomato growers suspended the DOC’s antidumping investigation on exports of tomatoes into the United States from Mexico. The agreement eliminated the need to implement the preliminary dumping duties, provided that Mexican tomato growers do not sell below the specified reference prices.
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