Preliminary ruling on fresh winter strawberry imports favors US growers

U.S. strawberry growers scored a win with a recent Commerce Department preliminary affirmative determination in an antidumping investigation of fresh winter strawberries from Mexico.

The determination (.pdf), announced Aug. 18, found that all companies subject to the investigation had sold strawberries at less than fair value (LTFV) in the U.S.

Last December, the Strawberry Growers for Fair Trade filed an antidumping duty petition alleging that strawberries sold at LTFV were harming or a threat to U.S. producers.

The Commerce Department decision follows a February determination by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that there was a reasonable indication that imports of Mexican winter strawberries had materially injured the domestic industry. The investigations will now proceed to final determinations by both Commerce and the ITC.

The preliminary determination establishes the initial duty rates for the investigation. The next step is an audit of sales and cost records of the major Mexican producers.

According to the determination, scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Aug. 21, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to begin suspending liquidation and collecting cash deposits on entries of winter strawberries from Mexico.

After the antidumping order is issued, parties can ask for a retroactive recalculation of the actual duties owed.

The investigation is expected to conclude at the beginning of 2027.