Global Geo-political Series: U.S. Commerce department imposes affirmative preliminary AD duty on Citric Acid and certain Citrate Salts from Belgium, Colombia and Thailand

U.S. commerce department decided to impose Anti-dumping duties (CVD) on imports of Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from Belgium, Colombia, and Thailand accusing the countries of subsidizing those products. In a statement released on the commerce department website, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has confirmed the affirmative preliminary determination in the AD investigation, finding that exporters of those products have sold citric acid and certain citrate salts in the United States at 4.77 percent to 27.48 percent less than fair value. According to the statement, the U.S. Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) to collect cash deposits from importers of citric acid and certain citrate salts from Belgium (24.41 percent), Colombia (27.48 percent), and Thailand (4.77 percent to 15.73 percent) based on these preliminary rates.

In 2016, imports of citric acid and certain citrate salts from Belgium, Colombia, and Thailand were valued at an estimated $10.2 million, $26.5 million, and $49.9 million, respectively.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said, “Though politics plays no role in antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, President Trump made it clear that we will vigorously enforce our trade laws and provide U.S. industry relief from unfair trade practices…Today’s decision allows U.S. producers of citric acid to receive& relief from the market-distorting effects of potential dumping while we continue our investigation.”

Since becoming President, Trump has instructed his team to take up the issue of trade balance and dumping of foreign products seriously. From January 20, 2017, through December 31, 2017, Commerce has initiated 82 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations; a 58 percent increase over the previous year. CVD laws provide U.S. businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of unfair subsidization of imports into the United States.  The Commerce Department currently maintains 412 antidumping and CVD orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade.