U.S. Commerce Department Reaches Suspension Agreements with Argentina on White Grape Juice Concentrate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2023
Contact: Office of Public Affairs
publicaffairs@trade.gov

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the successful negotiation of antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) suspension agreements on White Grape Juice Concentrate (WGJC) from Argentina. This outcome is a critical win for the domestic industry, as it will provide certainty and relief to U.S. domestic producers facing unfair trade practices, including unfair foreign pricing and subsidization.

The agreements impose an export limit and minimum selling prices for imports from Argentina and will suspend Commerce’s AD/CVD investigations that were initiated after a domestic producer filed a complaint in 2022 alleging unfair trade practices and requesting the imposition of U.S. antidumping and countervailing duties.

“Our investigators work hard to protect U.S. industries and workers against the harm imposed by unfair foreign trade practices by rigorously enforcing U.S. trade law,” said Lisa Wang, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Enforcement and Compliance. “These agreements will provide an effective remedy for grape farmers and processors of white grape juice concentrate alike, while establishing certainty for fair competition in the years ahead.”

The Enforcement and Compliance division of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) will track import volumes and prices of Argentine WGJC in the United States and monitor compliance of these agreements through well-established mechanisms that include quarterly signatory reporting requirements and on-site examinations of signatory producers’ and exporters’ pricing and distribution practices.

ITA’s Enforcement and Compliance (E&C) division works to ensure a level playing field for U.S. industries by defending against unfair trade and ensuring compliance with existing trade agreements. Currently, E&C administers 665 AD/CVD orders and now eight suspension agreements.

About the International Trade Administration
The International Trade Administration (ITA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce is the premier resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace. ITA has more than 2,200 employees assisting U.S. exporters in more than 100 U.S. cities and 80 markets worldwide. For more information, visit www.trade.gov.