May 28, 2008
News Release 08-051
Inv. No. 701-TA-456 and 731-TA-1151-1152 (P)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of citric acid and certain citrate salts from China that are allegedly subsidized and imports of this product from Canada and China that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Vice Chairman Shara L. Aranoff and Commissioners Deanna Tanner Okun and Irving A. Williamson voted in the affirmative. Chairman Daniel R. Pearson and Commissioners Charlotte R. Lane and Dean A. Pinkert voted in the negative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its countervailing duty investigation on imports of this product from China and antidumping investigations of imports of this product from Canada and China, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about July 8, 2008, and its preliminary antidumping determinations due on or about September 22, 2008.

The Commission's public report Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from Canada and China (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-456 and 731-TA-1151-1152 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4008, June 2008) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after June 26, 2008, by calling 202-205-2000 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: Citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate are all normally sold as odorless, translucent crystals available in three granulations: granular, fine granular, and powder. Citric acid is also available in solution. Unrefined calcium citrate ("UCC") is an intermediate form in the production of citric acid, sodium citrate, or potassium citrate via the lime/sulfuric acid process. UCC can be shipped to another facility for further processing into refined citric acid. Citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate are chemical products used in the production and formulation of a wide variety of foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics as well as commercial and household products including detergents, metal cleaners, textile finishing treatments, and other industrial applications.

Status of Proceedings:

1.  Type of investigations:  Preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty.
2.  Petitioners:  Archer Daniels Midland Co., Decatur, IL; Cargill, Inc., Wayzata, MN; and Tate
         & Lyle Americas, Inc., Decatur, IL.
3.  Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC:  April 14, 2008.
4.  Commission's conference:  May 7, 2008.
5.  USITC vote:  May 28, 2008.
6.  USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  May 29, 2008.
7.  USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  June 5, 2008.

U.S. Industry:

1.  Number of producers in 2007:  Three.
2.  Location of producers' plants:  Illinois, Iowa, and North Carolina.
3.  Employment of production and related workers in 2007:  295.
4.  Apparent U.S. consumption in 2007: (1)
5.  Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2007:  (1)

U.S. Imports:

1.  From the subject countries during 2007:  (1)
2.  From other countries during 2007:  $38.8 million.
3.  Leading sources during 2007:  China and Canada (in terms of total value).

(1) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.