U.S. Amends Lemon Juice Antidumping Pact with Argentina to Squeeze Fairer Prices
Published Date: 1/24/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Department of Commerce and Argentina’s lemon juice producers have updated their 2016 deal to keep lemon juice imports fair. They raised the price limits and added better ways to watch and enforce the rules. This change started on January 17, 2025, affecting all lemon juice imports from Argentina and helping keep the market balanced.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.
New Minimum Price Floor
As of January 17, 2025, signatory Argentine lemon juice producers/exporters may not sell lemon juice for export to the United States below the Reference Prices listed in Appendix I (U.S. $/gallon, FOB Buenos Aires). The Reference Prices are set by product type and concentration and remain in effect through December 31, 2025, unless adjusted via the Adjustment Mechanism.
Protects U.S. Domestic Prices
Commerce found the amended agreement will eliminate injurious effects of Argentine lemon juice imports and prevent suppression or undercutting of domestic lemon juice price levels. The Department determined the amended 2016 Agreement meets statutory tests and is in the public interest, effective January 17, 2025.
Quarterly Reporting and Verification
Each signatory must, within 30 days after the end of each quarter, certify that sales in the quarter were at or above the Reference Prices and supply quantity and value by product type; signatories must permit verification and disclose indirect shipments. Failure to provide the required quarterly certifications may be considered a Violation of the Agreement. Shipments pursuant to sales contracts entered before January 17, 2025 must enter the U.S. within 30 days of that date and be reported in a one-time report within 60 days.
Price Adjustment Mechanism
Reference Prices remain in effect through December 31, 2025. Before January 15, 2026, and annually on or before January 15 thereafter, parties may request adjustments. An adjustment request must show the Weighted-Average Import Price changed by at least 10 percentage points over a period of at least 4 months; any approved change adjusts Base Reference Prices by half the measured change, and the Department will normally issue final revised Reference Prices within 30 days of receiving the written request.
Products Excluded From Coverage
The amended agreement covers 'lemon juice for further manufacture' but explicitly excludes (1) lemon juice packed in retail-sized containers ready for sale to consumers (typically ~48 GPL concentration) and (2) beverage products such as lemonade that typically contain 20% or less lemon juice. These excluded products are not subject to the Reference Prices in Appendix I.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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