Several IDFA members have received questionnaires from the International Trade Commission (ITC) regarding Mexican sugar imports and the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations that were conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce last year. ITC is attempting to determine if the suspension agreements, recently finalized by Commerce, the Mexican government and Mexican sugar importers, will fully resolve and rectify the Commission’s preliminary determination of injury.  

The investigations started last March when several U.S. sugar groups filed a petition with ITC and Commerce claiming the government of Mexico was subsidizing and dumping sugar in the United States. The petition requested countervailing duties and antidumping duties to be placed on imports of sugar from Mexico.

Commerce suspended its investigation late last year after reaching agreement with the government of Mexico and Mexican sugar producers. The ITC is continuing its probe, however, because two companies have exercised their rights under U.S. statute to request a continuation of the investigation.

IDFA reminds members who received the 29-page questionnaire that response is mandatory and due by January 28. ITC estimates that it will take each company an average of 25 hours to complete the detailed form.

Members who have questions or need help filling out the questionnaire may contact Clay Hough, IDFA senior group vice president, at chough@idfa.org, or Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.