Although the International Trade Administration and Mexican tomato growers recently finalized an agreement suspending a 1996 antidumping duty investigation of fresh tomatoes from Mexico (A-201-820), the signing didn’t occur before the ITA terminated the previous suspension agreement and officially resumed the investigation. According to a Federal Register notice set for publication March 7, the ITA began suspending liquidation and requiring cash deposits for merchandise entered on or after March 1. Cash deposits were required at the rates found in the 1996 preliminary determination, 4.16 to 188.45 percent. The effective date of the suspension agreement is March 4.
The International Trade Administration published notices in the March 5 Federal Register on the following AD/CV proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):
The International Trade Administration issued the preliminary results of its antidumping duty administrative review of polyester staple fiber from China (A-570-905) for two companies, both of which were preliminarily assigned the China-wide rate. Huvis Sichuan Polyester Fiber Ltd. received a separate rate in a previous review, but didn't submit a separate rate certification in this one, the ITA said. Affiliated companies Far Eastern Industries (Shanghai) Ltd. and Far Eastern Polychem Industries have never received a separate rate and didn't submit a separate rate application. The ITA also rescinded this review for seven companies for which review requests were withdrawn.1 These preliminary results are not in effect. The ITA may modify them in the final results of this review and change the estimated AD cash deposit rate for this company.
The International Trade Administration and Mexican tomato growers finalized an agreement to avert resumption of an antidumping duty investigation of fresh tomatoes from Mexico. The suspension agreement raises minimum prices for Mexican tomatoes, and puts new enforcement measures in place. More than 600 Mexican growers and exporters are signatories. Imports of fresh tomatoes for processing are not covered.
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to CBP's website March 4, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)
The International Trade Administration issued the preliminary results of its antidumping duty new shipper review on new pneumatic off-the-road tires from China (A-570-912), which lists a proposed estimated cash deposit rate of zero for subject merchandise exported by Trelleborg Wheel Systems (Xingtai) China Co. and imported by its U.S. affiliate Trelleborg Wheel Systems Americas.
Esselte’s lined stone paper is within the scope of the antidumping duty order on certain lined paper products from China (A-570-901), said the International Trade Administration in a final scope ruling. No parties submitted comments after the preliminary determination, so the ITA finalized its preliminary affirmative scope determination.
The International Trade Administration announced its preliminary affirmative countervailing duty determination on hardwood and decorative plywood from China (C-570-986), finding de minimis CV duty rates for the three individual respondents. According to the ITA fact sheet, companies that didn’t respond to the ITA’s questionnaires were assigned a CV duty rate of 27.16 percent, and the all others rate was set at 22.63 percent. The ITA will direct CBP to suspend liquidation and collect CV duty cash deposits based on these preliminary rates. The final CV duty determination is due in July, at the same time as the companion antidumping duty final determination, although both deadlines may be extended.
The International Trade Administration published notices in the Feb. 27 Federal Register on the following AD/CV proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):
The International Trade Administration is extending the deadline to May 28 for its preliminary determination in the countervailing duty investigations of frozen warmwater shrimp from China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam (C-570-989, C-331-803, C-533-854, C-560-825, C-557-814, C-549-828, and C-552-815). Domestic industry requested the extension of the due date, the ITA said, which was originally set for March 25.