Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill, and Tate & Lyle Americas filed
petitions today with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S.
International Trade Commission (USITC), alleging that imports of citric
acid and certain citrate salts from Canada and China are being sold at
less than fair value, unfairly damaging the U.S. industry. The petitions
ask the government to impose antidumping and countervailing duties
against imports from China and antidumping duties against imports from
Canada.
Citric acid is used in a broad array of applications, including foods
and beverages (primarily as an acidulant, preservative and flavor
enhancer), pharmaceuticals, household detergents and cosmetics. Also
included in the petition are certain citrate salts – including sodium
citrate, potassium citrate, and unrefined calcium citrate.
The Commerce Department has 20 days to review the petitions and start an
investigation. The USITC has 45 days to determine whether there is a
reasonable indication that imports from Canada and China are causing or
threatening to cause material injury to the U.S. industry. If the USITC
determination is affirmative, the investigation will continue, and the
Commerce Department will issue preliminary determinations regarding the
degree of dumping and subsidies in three to five months.
The petition asks the government to impose tariffs of about 65 percent
for Canada and 188 percent for China, based on the amount it’s believed
their products are being sold in the United States at dumped prices. The
petition also alleges substantial countervailable subsidies on imports
from China. If these margins and subsidies are confirmed, duties would
be imposed on the imports at the time of entry into the United States.
Such measures would enable the domestic industry to compete with imports
on a level playing field.
David Weintraub, ADM, (217) 424-5413, media@adm.com
Bill Brady, Cargill, (952) 742-6608, bill_brady@cargill.com
Chris Olsen, Tate & Lyle Americas, (217) 421-2804, chris.olsen@tateandlyle.com