The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on imports of raw in-shell pistachios from Iran 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 antidumping duty order on imports of this product from Iran will remain in place.

Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman David S. Johanson, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, Meredith M. Broadbent, and F. Scott Kieff voted in the affirmative.

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) review.

The Commission’s public report Raw In-Shell Pistachios from Iran (Inv. No. 731-TA-287 (Second Review), USITC Publication 4701, June 2017) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the review.

The report will be available by July 17, 2017; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

BACKGROUND

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 USITC 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 (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 Raw In-Shell Pistachios from Iran was instituted on April 1, 2016.

On July 5, 2016, the Commission voted to conduct a full review.  Then-Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Dean A. Pinkert, David S. Johanson, F. Scott Kieff, and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate, but that circumstances warranted a full review. Commissioner Meredith M. Broadbent concluded that the domestic and respondent group responses were adequate.

A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct a full review 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 U.S. International Trade Commission has voted to conduct a full five-year (“sunset”) review concerning the antidumping duty order on raw-in-shell pistachios from Iran.

As a result of this vote, the Commission will conduct a full review to determine whether revocation of the order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

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 USITC 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 (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission’s notice of institution in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file with the Commission responses that discuss the likely effects of revoking the order under review and provide other pertinent 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.

Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Dean A. Pinkert, David S. Johanson, F. Scott Kieff, and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate, but that circumstances warranted a full review. Commissioner Meredith M. Broadbent concluded that the domestic and respondent group responses were adequate.

A record of the Commission’s vote on this matter 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 vote is also posted on the USITC's Internet site at http://pubapps2.usitc.gov/sunset/caseProf/list?sort=caseTitle&order=asc. From this page, search "pistachios" using the search box in the upper right corner.

The Federal Register notice will indicate whether any further information or statements will be available. The Commission will issue a report after it completes its review.