July 10, 2013
News Release 13-063
Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1105-1106 (Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today made its determinations in its five-year (sunset) reviews concerning the suspended antidumping duty investigations on imports of lemon juice from Argentina and Mexico.

With respect to Argentina, the Commission determined that termination of the suspended antidumping duty investigation on lemon juice would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination, the existing suspension agreement on imports of this product from Argentina will remain in place. Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Shara L. Aranoff, Dean A. Pinkert, David S. Johanson, and Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the affirmative; Commissioner Daniel R. Pearson voted in the negative.

With respect to Mexico, the Commission determined that termination of the suspended antidumping duty investigation on lemon juice would not be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. As a result of the Commission's negative determination, the suspended antidumping duty investigation on imports of this product from Mexico will be terminated. All six Commissioners voted in the negative.

Today's action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on this five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission's public report Lemon Juice from Argentina and Mexico (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1105-1106 (Review), USITC Publication 4418, July 2013) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

Copies may be requested after August 16, 2013, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or writing to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by fax at 202-205-2104.

BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspended investigation, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspended investigation would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

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 under review 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 USITC'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 generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission's prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

The five-year (sunset) review concerning Lemon Juice from Argentina and Mexico was instituted on August 1, 2012.

On November 5, 2012, the Commission voted to conduct full reviews. All six Commissioners concluded that both the domestic group response and the respondent group responses were adequate and voted for full reviews.

A record of the Commission's votes to conduct a full reviews 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.