Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the affirmative preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) investigations of imports of citric acid and certain citrate salts from Belgium, Colombia, and Thailand. “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,” said Secretary Ross. “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.” The Commerce Department preliminarily determined that exporters from Belgium, Colombia, and Thailand have sold citric acid and certain citrate salts in the United States at 4.77 percent to 27.48 percent less than fair value. As a result of today’s decision, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (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. The petitioners are Archer Daniels Midland Company (IL), Cargill, Incorporated (MN), and Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas LLC (IL). Enforcement of U.S. trade law is a prime focus of the Trump administration. From January 20, through December 31, 2017, Commerce has initiated 82 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations – a 58 percent increase from 48 in the previous year. The AD law provides U.S. businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of unfair pricing of imports into the United States. Commerce currently maintains 412 antidumping and countervailing duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade. Commerce is scheduled to announce the final determinations in these investigations on or about May 14, 2018. If Commerce makes affirmative final determinations of dumping and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) makes affirmative final injury determinations, Commerce will issue AD orders. If Commerce makes negative final determinations of dumping or the ITC makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will be terminated and no orders will be issued.& Click HERE for a fact sheet on today’s decision. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Enforcement and Compliance unit within the International Trade Administration is responsible for vigorously enforcing U.S. trade laws and does so through an impartial, transparent process that abides by international law and is based solely on factual evidence. Foreign companies that price their products in the U.S. market below the cost of production or below prices in their home markets are subject to antidumping duties.