May 9, 2014
News Release 14-041
Inv. Nos. 701-TA-513 and 731-TA-1249 (P)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of sugar from Mexico that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Dean A. Pinkert, David S. Johanson, Meredith M. Broadbent, and F. Scott Kieff voted in the affirmative. Commissioner Rhonda K. Schmidtlein did not participate in these investigations.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its investigations on imports of these products, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about June 23, 2014, and its antidumping duty determinations due on or about September 4, 2014.

The Commission's public report Sugar from Mexico (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-513 and 731- TA-1249 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4467, May 2014) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available after June 9, 2014. After that date, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp. Copies also may be requested after that date 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.

Product Description: Sugar, or sucrose, is a natural sweetener derived from sugarcane and sugar beets. Sugar is primarily used for human consumption as a caloric sweetening agent in food and beverages such as bakery products, cereals, confectionery, dairy products, coffee, tea, and cocoa. The products covered by these investigations include sugar in raw, refined, and liquid forms, including organic sugar.

Status of Proceedings:

1. Type of investigations:  Preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty.
2. Petitioners: American Sugar Cane League, Thibodaux, LA; American Sugarbeet Growers
      Association, Washington, DC; American Sugar Refining, Inc., West Palm Beach, FL;
      Florida Sugar Cane League, Washington, DC; Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar
      Company, Puunene, HI; Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc., Santa Rosa, TX;
      Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, Belle Glade, FL; and United States Beet
      Sugar Association, Washington, DC. 
3. Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC: March 28, 2014.
4. Commission's conference: April 18, 2014.
5. USITC vote: May 9, 2014.
6. USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce: May 12, 2014.
7. USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce: May 19, 2014.

U.S. Industry:

1. Number of producers in 2013:  Thirteen sugarcane millers; six sugarcane refiners; seven
      sugar beet processors.
2. Location of producers' plants:  Sugarcane millers:  Hawaii, Florida, Louisiana, Texas;
      sugarcane refiners: California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, New York;
      sugar beet processors:  California, Colorado, Idaho, Nebraska, North Dakota,
      Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 2012/13 (2), (1). 
4. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2012/13 (2): $7.7 billion
5. Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2012/13 (2): 19.9 percent.

U.S. Imports:
1. From the subject countries during 2012/13 (2):  $1.0 billion.
2. From other countries during 2012/13 (2):  $ 497.8 million.
3. Leading sources during 2012/13 (2): Mexico, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Philippines,
      Guatemala (in terms of total value).

(1) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.
(2) October 2012 through September 2013.