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| Horticultural & Tropical Products Division | Return to the H&TP Home Page |
June 28, 2002
Outlook Positive for U.S.
Apple and Pear Shipments to Cuba
After several days of meetings
and site visits to packing houses and orchards in Washington state and New York,
U.S. apples and pears may soon find their way to Cuba, ending a 40-year absence.
On June 16, 2002, representatives from APHIS and Cuba's Centro Nacional
Sanidad Vegetal (CNSV) signed a document that details the phytosanitary
requirements for the exportation of Washington State apples and pears to Cuba.
Likewise, New York apple growers received
phytosanitary clearance on June 19. New
York and Washington are the only states that now have clearance to ship apples
to Cuba. Shipments
from both states will require a Federal Phytosanitary Certificate (PC),
along with an additional declaration indicating that they are free of certain
pests, such as Rhagoletis pomonella (apple maggot).
In the near term, potential sales of apples to Cuba could total $500,000
annually. The first export sale,
which will be made on a cash basis, is expected to take place in the summer of
2002.
ITC Rules Imports of Chilean Frozen Raspberry Injure U.S. Industry
On June 20, 2002, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issued a final determination that the U.S. raspberry industry has been materially injured by imports of individually quick frozen red raspberries (IQF) from Chile. This decision follows the Department of Commerce’s final ruling in May that IQF red raspberries from Chile were being sold in the United States at less than fair market value. At that time, final antidumping duties on imported IQF raspberries ranged from 0.50 to 5.98 percent. The Department of Commerce will now instruct its Customs officials to assess the antidumping duties on all imports of this product from Chile. Since the ITC’s preliminary affirmative injury ruling on the case last June, U.S. imports of IQF red raspberries from Chile through April were up 22 percent on a volume basis, and increased 12 percent on a value basis, compared to the same period in the preceding year.Canadian
Tribunal Rules No Injury in Dumping Case Against Fresh Tomatoes from the United
States
On June 26, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal
(CITT) issued its finding that the dumping of fresh tomatoes from the United
States has not caused material injury and is not threatening to cause material
injury to the domestic industry.
This negative determination brings this case to a close. On
June 24, the Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) had confirmed that fresh
tomatoes from the United States, excluding tomatoes for processing, were dumped
into Canada at, on average, 33 percent below normal price levels.
A
U.S. dumping investigation against Canadian greenhouse tomatoes was effectively
terminated on April 2, when the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issued
a final negative injury determination in the case.
Two-way tomato trade remains critical to both industries’ stability and
long-term health.
According to Census Bureau data, U.S. exports of tomatoes to Canada in CY
2001 were valued at $115 million, while U.S. imports of tomatoes from Canada in
that same year reached $167 million.
Department of Commerce Ordered to Explain Method for Calculating
Anti-dumping Duties on Chinese Apple Juice
On June 18, the New York-based U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that the U.S. Department of Commerce must address the method used when calculating anti-dumping duties imposed on Chinese not-frozen apple juice concentrate (AJC) in 2000. The ruling came more than two years after China’s apple juice producers filed an appeal on the dumping decision with the U.S. Court of International Trade. The Chinese producers appealed the Commerce Department’s use of India as a surrogate country, among other factors, to determine the cost of production of AJC in China. Because China is not a free market economy, Commerce was allowed to use India as a substitute country. The Commerce Department has 90 days from the ruling to address the issues outlined in the Court’s decision. The anti-dumping duties, ranging from about 9 percent to 52 percent, will remain in effect during this period. On May 15, 2000, the U.S. International Trade Commission issued a final determination that the U.S. apple juice industry was materially injured by imports of AJC from China. Commerce instructed U.S. Customs officials to assess the antidumping duties on all imports of Chinese non-frozen apple juice concentrate (including semi-frozen or chilled). The dumping duties are to be in effect for five years.
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