[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 6, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 380-381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00011]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 731-TA-1770 (Preliminary)]
Fresh Winter Strawberries From Mexico; Institution of Antidumping
Duty Investigation and Scheduling of Preliminary Phase Investigation
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of an
investigation and commencement of preliminary phase antidumping duty
investigation No. 731-TA-1770 (Preliminary) pursuant to the Tariff Act
of 1930 to determine whether there is a reasonable indication that 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 winter
strawberries from Mexico, provided for in subheading 0810.10.40 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be
sold in the United States at less than fair value. Unless the
Department of Commerce (``Commerce'') extends the time for initiation,
the Commission must reach a preliminary determination in antidumping
duty investigations in 45 days, or in this case by February 17, 2026.
The Commission's views must be transmitted to Commerce within five
business days thereafter, or by February 24, 2026.
DATES: December 31, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Cummings ((202) 708-1666),
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.--This investigation is being instituted, pursuant to
section 733(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1673b(a)), in
response to a petition filed on December 31, 2025, by Strawberry
Growers for Fair Trade (``SGFT''), an ad hoc trade association
consisting of Astin Strawberry Exchange (Plant City, Florida); BBI
Produce, Inc. dba Berry Boss (Dover, Florida); Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services (Tallahassee, Florida); Grimes
Produce Company (Plant City, Florida); Mathis Farms (Plant City,
Florida); Simmons Farms, Inc. (Plant City, Florida); Sizemore Farms,
Inc. (Plant City, Florida); Sweet
[[Page 381]]
Life Farms (Plant City, Florida); Ultra Farms (Wimauma, Florida); and
the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (Dover, Florida).
For further information concerning the conduct of this
investigation and rules of general application, consult the
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A and
B (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and B (19 CFR part 207).
Participation in the investigation and public service list.--
Persons (other than petitioners) wishing to participate in the
investigation as parties must file an entry of appearance with the
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in Sec. Sec. 201.11 and
207.10 of the Commission's rules, not later than seven days after
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Industrial users
and (if the merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail
level) representative consumer organizations have the right to appear
as parties in Commission antidumping duty investigations. The Secretary
will prepare a public service list containing the names and addresses
of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to this
investigation upon the expiration of the period for filing entries of
appearance.
Limited disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI) under
an administrative protective order (APO) and BPI service list.--
Pursuant to Sec. 207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary
will make BPI gathered in this investigation available to authorized
applicants representing interested parties (as defined in 19 U.S.C.
1677(9)) who are parties to the investigation under the APO issued in
the investigation, provided that the application is made not later than
seven days after the publication of this notice in the Federal
Register. A separate service list will be maintained by the Secretary
for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
Conference.--The Office of Investigations will hold a staff
conference in connection with the preliminary phase of this
investigation beginning at 9:30 a.m. on January 21, 2026. Requests to
appear at the conference should be emailed to
[email protected] (DO NOT FILE ON EDIS) on or before
noon on January 16, 2026. Please provide an email address for each
conference participant in the email. Information on conference
procedures, format, and participation, including guidance for requests
to appear as a witness via videoconference, will be available on the
Commission's Public Calendar (Calendar (USITC) [verbar] United States
International Trade Commission). A nonparty who has testimony that may
aid the Commission's deliberations may request permission to
participate by submitting a short statement.
Please note the Secretary's Office will accept only electronic
filings during this time. Filings must be made through the Commission's
Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov).
No in-person paper-based filings or paper copies of any electronic
filings will be accepted until further notice.
Written submissions.--As provided in Sec. Sec. 201.8 and 207.15 of
the Commission's rules, any person may submit to the Commission on or
before 5:15 p.m. on January 26, 2026, a written brief containing
information and arguments pertinent to the subject matter of the
investigation. Parties shall file written testimony and supplementary
material in connection with their presentation at the conference no
later than 4:00 p.m. on January 20, 2026. All written submissions must
conform with the provisions of Sec. 201.8 of the Commission's rules;
any submissions that contain BPI must also conform with the
requirements of Sec. Sec. 201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of the Commission's
rules. The Commission's Handbook on Filing Procedures, available on the
Commission's website at https://www.usitc.gov/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf, elaborates upon the Commission's
procedures with respect to filings.
In accordance with Sec. Sec. 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the rules,
each document filed by a party to the investigation must be served on
all other parties to the investigation (as identified by either the
public or BPI service list), and a certificate of service must be
timely filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for filing
without a certificate of service.
Certification.--Pursuant to Sec. 207.3 of the Commission's rules,
any person submitting information to the Commission in connection with
this investigation must certify that the information is accurate and
complete to the best of the submitter's knowledge. In making the
certification, the submitter will acknowledge that any information that
it submits to the Commission during this investigation may be disclosed
to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and
contract personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of
these or related investigations or reviews, or (b) in internal
investigations, audits, reviews, and evaluations relating to the
programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5
U.S.C. Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract
personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. All contract personnel
will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.
Authority: This investigation is being conducted under authority of
title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published pursuant
to Sec. 207.12 of the Commission's rules.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: December 31, 2025.
Susan Orndoff,
Supervisory Attorney.
[FR Doc. 2026-00011 Filed 1-5-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P