International Trade Commission Votes to Continue Anti-dumping Duties Placed on Chinese Honey

The International Trade Commission voted Monday, Nov. 19, to continue anti-dumping duties on Chinese imported honey.  After testimony presented earlier, the Commission decided that “removing the tariffs would likely hurt the domestic industry.”

“The commission voted 5-0 to maintain the protective measures on Chinese honey following a second sunset review to determine whether U.S. honey producers still needed the duties. Domestic trade groups, The American Honey Producers Association and the Sioux Honey Association, claimed honey from China being sold at below market value would harm the industry,” according to a story written by Jonathan Randles of Law360.

“The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the United States to revoke an anti-dumping or counterveiling duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the department and the ITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies and of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time,” according to the “sunset review” conducted every five years.

The Commerce Department began their investigation on Chinese honey dumping in 2000 and the International Trade Commission made the decision to start protective tariffs on Chinese honey imports that year.