Petition Filed for New AD/CV Duties on White Grape Juice Concentrate From Argentina
A California grape grower cooperative seeking the imposition of new antidumping and countervailing duties on white grape juice concentrate, it said in petitions filed with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission March 31. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations, which could result in the imposition of permanent AD/CV duty orders and the assessment of AD and CV duties on importers. Delano Growers Grape Products filed the petition.
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Delano says Argentina is providing subsidies for its white grape juice concentrate growers "in the form of a mandatory quota which diverts grapes into the production" of white grape juice concentrate "and a differential price subsidy payment made to growers of these grapes." These upstream subsidies lower the cost of production for Argentine processors, which go on to sell white grape juice concentrate in the U.S. "at substantially lower prices than the U.S. market can bear," injuring the U.S. white grape juice concentrate industry.
Proposed Scope
The petition proposes the following scope for the investigations:
The scope of this investigation covers white grape juice concentrate with a Brix level of 65 to 68, whether in frozen or non-frozen forms. White grape juice concentrate is concentrated grape juice produced from grapes of the Vitis vinifera L. species with a white flesh, including fresh market table grapes and raisin grapes (e.g., Thompson Seedless), as well as several varietals of wine grapes (e.g., Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Colombard, etc.). The scope of this investigation covers white grape juice concentrate regardless of whether it has been certified as kosher, organic, or organic kosher. The white grape juice concentrate subject to this investigation consists of 100 percent grape juice with no other types of juice intermixed and no additional sugars or additives included.
The scope does not cover white grape juice concentrate produced from grapes of the Vitis labrusca species (e.g., Niagara).
The products covered by this petition are currently classified under the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings: 2009.69.0040 and 2009.69.0060. The HTSUS subheadings and specifications are provided for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Commerce Accepting Comments on Petition Support
The Commerce Department is accepting comments on domestic industry support for the petition to determine whether the petition meets the dual requirements of support by domestic producers or workers accounting for (1) at least 25% of the total production of the domestic-like product and (2) more than 50% of the production of the domestic-like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the petition. If the petition meets these requirements, among others, Commerce will initiate antidumping and countervailing duty investigations. Comments are due April 13, Commerce said.