Government Slaps Back at Foreign Aid for Citric Acid Dumping
Published Date: 2/17/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. is starting investigations into whether Canada and India unfairly help their companies sell citric acid and citrate salts cheaper in the U.S. This could lead to extra taxes on these imports to protect American producers. The process kicked off on February 10, 2026, and could impact prices and trade soon.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
U.S. Starts Countervailing Investigations
On February 10, 2026, the Department of Commerce initiated countervailing duty (CVD) investigations into imports of citric acid and certain citrate salts from Canada and India. The period of investigation is January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025; Commerce will make preliminary CVD determinations no later than 65 days after initiation, and the U.S. International Trade Commission will make a preliminary injury determination within 45 days after the petitions were filed (petitions filed January 21, 2026).
India: Multiple Producers Subject to Selection
The petition identified 19 companies in India as producers/exporters; Commerce released U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) import data on February 10, 2026 under administrative protective order and may select mandatory respondents for individual examination based on that CBP data. Interested parties have a short comment window on respondent selection following the initiation notice.
Broad Product Scope Defines Covered Imports
The investigations cover all grades and granulation sizes of citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate (unblended or in solution), blends where these components are 40% or more by weight, and specified forms of crude calcium citrate; the scope also cites HTSUS subheadings including 2918.14.0000, 2918.15.1000, and 2918.15.5000. The written product description in the appendix is dispositive.
Canada: Sole Known Exporter to Be Examined
Commerce identified one Canadian producer/exporter, Jungbunzlauer Canada Inc. (JBL), as the only known company in Canada producing citric acid and certain citrate salts and intends to individually examine that company in the CVD investigation. Commerce invited interested parties to comment and, absent new information, will issue the initial questionnaire to JBL.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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