Mutual Continues To Target Brazilian OJ Dumping

Florida Citrus Mutual says that it will continue to evaluate import data while investigating the possibility of petitioning the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to initiate a full anti-dumping investigation against a Brazilian orange juice processor.
 
“Florida Citrus Mutual is committed to ensuring that Brazilian juice processors play by the rules and will closely scrutinize public trade records to strengthen our body of evidence against this particular exporter,” said Michael W. Sparks, executive VP/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “We have a strong case and despite the recent minor setback we aren’t going to just let it go. Florida growers are clearly being injured by these actions.”
 
In April, Mutual filed a petition claiming Sao Paulo-based Citrovita sold orange juice in the United States at well below its cost of production, a violation of trade law. In the filing, Mutual asked the DOC to investigate Citrovita through a “changed circumstances” petition that would add the company to a current anti-dumping order that subjects four Brazilian exporters to federal pricing scrutiny. To offset the unfair prices, the exporters are required to pay a deposit that can only be refunded if they do not dump product.
 
The current antidumping order is estimated to have increased the on-tree value of Florida orange crops by 4 to 6 percent, or $85 to $125 million, over the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.
 
Last month the DOC said that it would not add Citrovita to the current antidumping order saying the scope of it can’t be modified under a changed circumstance review. The DOC did not say that Citrovita was not dumping.
 
“The DOC ruled on a legal technicality and didn’t say anything about Citrovita’s pricing,” Sparks said. “So the fact remains, the company is violating trade law and we will not stand for it.”
Source: FCM Press Release