[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27805-27806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12535]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 731-TA-747 (Final)]


Fresh Tomatoes From Mexico; Resumption of the Final Phase of an 
Anti-Dumping Duty Investigation

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the resumption of the 
final phase of antidumping investigation No. 731-TA-747 (Final) 
pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (``the Act'') to determine whether 
an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened 
with material injury, or the establishment of an industry in the United 
States is materially retarded, by reason of imports of fresh tomatoes 
from Mexico preliminarily determined by the Department of Commerce 
(``Commerce'') to be sold at less than fair value (``LTFV'').\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ For purposes of this investigation, Commerce has defined the 
subject merchandise as all fresh or chilled tomatoes (fresh 
tomatoes) which have Mexico as their origin, except for those 
tomatoes which are for processing. Processing is defined to include 
preserving by any commercial process, such as canning, dehydrating, 
drying, or the addition of chemical substances, or converting the 
tomato product into juices, sauces, or purees. Fresh tomatoes that 
are imported for cutting up, not further processing (e.g., tomatoes 
used in the preparation of fresh salsa or salad bars), are covered 
by the investigation.
    Commercially grown tomatoes, both for the fresh market and for 
processing, are classified as Lycopersicon esculentum. Important 
commercial varieties of fresh tomatoes include common round, cherry, 
grape, plum, greenhouse, and pear tomatoes, all of which are covered 
by this investigation.
    Tomatoes imported from Mexico covered by this investigation are 
classified under the following subheading of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), according to the season of 
importation: 0702. Although the HTSUS numbers are provided for 
convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the 
scope of this investigation is dispositive.
    Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico: Termination of Suspension Agreement, 
Rescission of Administrative Review, and Continuation of the 
Antidumping Duty Investigation. 84 FR 20858, 20860 May 13, 2019.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 27806]]


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATES: May 7, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher W. Robinson ((202) 205-
2542), Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 
500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can 
obtain information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD 
terminal on 202-205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will 
need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should 
contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General 
information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing 
its internet server (https://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this 
investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket 
(EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background.--On April 1, 1996, the Commission instituted a 
preliminary antidumping investigation in response to a petition filed 
by the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, Orlando, FL; Florida Fruit and 
Vegetable Association, Orlando, FL; Florida Farm Bureau Federation, 
Gainesville, FL; South Carolina Tomato Association, Inc., Charleston, 
SC; Gadsden County Tomato Growers Association, Inc., Quincy, FL; 
Accomack County Farm Bureau, Accomack, VA; Florida Tomato Exchange, 
Orlando, FL; Bob Crawford, Commissioner of Agriculture, Florida 
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Tallahassee, FL; and 
the Ad Hoc Group of Florida, California, Georgia, Pennsylvania, South 
Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia Tomato Growers (61 FR 15968, April 
10, 1996). On May 16, 1996, the Commission notified Commerce of its 
affirmative preliminary injury determination (61 FR 28891, June 6, 
1996). On October 28, 1996, Commerce preliminarily determined that 
imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico were being sold at LTFV in the 
United States (61 FR 56608, November 1, 1996). Also on October 28, 
1996, Commerce and certain growers/exporters of fresh tomatoes from 
Mexico signed a final suspension agreement (61 FR 56618, November 1, 
1996). Accordingly, effective November 1, 1996, the Commission 
suspended its antidumping investigation (61 FR 58217, November 13, 
1996).
    On October 1, 2001, Commerce initiated and the Commission 
instituted their first five-year reviews to determine whether 
termination of the suspended investigation on fresh tomatoes from 
Mexico would likely lead to a continuation or recurrence of material 
injury (66 FR 49926, 66 FR 49975). On July 30, 2002, Commerce 
terminated the suspension agreement and its first review and resumed 
its antidumping investigation (67 FR 50858, August 6, 2002). 
Accordingly, the Commission terminated its first review on July 30, 
2002 (67 FR 53361, August 15, 2002) and resumed its antidumping 
investigation (67 FR 56854, September 5, 2002). On December 16, 2002, 
Commerce and the Commission suspended their resumed antidumping 
investigations when Commerce signed a new suspension agreement with 
certain growers/exporters of fresh tomatoes from Mexico (67 FR 77044; 
67 FR 78815, December 26, 2002).
    On November 1, 2007, Commerce initiated and the Commission 
instituted their second five-year reviews of the suspended 
investigation (72 FR 61861, 72 FR 61905). Commerce terminated the 
suspension agreement and its second review and resumed its antidumping 
investigation, effective January 18, 2008 (73 FR 2887, January 16, 
2008). The Commission consequently terminated its second review of the 
suspended investigation and resumed its antidumping investigation, 
effective January 18, 2008 (73 FR 5869, January 31, 2008). The 
antidumping investigation was suspended effective January 22, 2008, 
when Commerce signed a new suspension agreement with certain growers/
exporters of fresh tomatoes from Mexico (73 FR 4831, January 28, 2008; 
73 FR 7762, February 11, 2008).
    On December 3, 2012, Commerce initiated and the Commission 
instituted their third five-year reviews of the suspended investigation 
(77 FR 71684, 77 FR 71629). On March 1, 2013, Commerce terminated the 
suspension agreement and its third review and resumed its antidumping 
investigation (78 FR 14771, March 7, 2013). On March 4, 2013, the 
Commission terminated its third review and resumed its antidumping 
investigation (78 FR 16529, March 15, 2013). Also on March 4, 2013, 
Commerce signed a new suspension agreement with certain grower/
exporters of fresh tomatoes from Mexico and suspended its antidumping 
investigation (78 FR 14967, March 8, 2013). Effective March 4, 2013, 
the Commission suspended its antidumping investigation (78 FR 16529, 
March 15, 2013).
    On February 1, 2018, Commerce initiated and the Commission 
instituted their fourth five-year reviews of the suspended 
investigation (83 FR 4641, 83 FR 4676). On May 7, 2019, Commerce 
terminated the suspension agreement and resumed its antidumping 
investigation (84 FR 20858, May 13, 2019). Effective May 7, 2019, the 
Commission terminated its fourth review (84 FR 21360, May 14, 2019) and 
has resumed its antidumping investigation.
    A schedule for the final phase of this investigation will be issued 
at a later date.

    Authority: This investigation is being conducted under authority 
of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published 
pursuant to section 207.21 of the Commission's rules.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: June 10, 2019.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2019-12535 Filed 6-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P