Sugar from Mexico Injures U.S. Industry, Says USITC

October 20, 2015
News Release 15-098
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-513 and 731-TA-1249 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

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

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the USITC’s affirmative determinations, suspension agreements that Commerce previously entered concerning sugar from Mexico will remain in effect. 

The Commission’s public report Sugar from Mexico (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-513 and 731-TA-1249 (Final), USITC Publication 4577, November 2015) will contain the views of the Commissioners and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by November 23, 2015; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

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UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Office of Industries
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Sugar from Mexico
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-513 and 731-TA-1249 (Final)

 

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, as well as organic sugar.

Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation: Final antidumping and countervailing duty.
2. Petitioners:  American Sugar Coalition and its members:  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. Investigation instituted by USITC: March 28, 2014.
4. USITC hearing: September 16, 2015.
5. USITC vote: October 20, 2015.
6. USITC notification to the Department of Commerce: November 2, 2015.

U.S. Industry:
1. Number of U.S. producers in 2014:  13 sugarcane millers; 7 sugarcane refiners; 7 sugar beet processors.
2. Location of producers’ plants:  California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
3. Employment of production and related workers in crop year 2013/14: ^{[1], [2]}
4. U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments in crop year 2013/14: ^{1, 2}
5. Apparent U.S. consumption in crop year 2013/14: ^{1, 2}
6. Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption in crop year 2013/14: ^{1, 2}

U.S. Imports in Crop Year 2013/14:¹
1. From the subject country during crop year 2013/14: $945 million.¹
2. From other countries during crop year 2013/14: $490 million.¹
3. Leading sources during crop year 2013/14: Mexico, Brazil, Philippines, Dominican Republic, and Guatemala (in terms of total volume). ¹