Mexico’s Ministry of Economy has terminated an antidumping investigation into US apple imports without the imposition of new antidumping duties. Provisional duties on US fruit ranging from 2.44 per cent to 20.82 per cent were also revoked on Wednesday (8 June).
In releasing its final determination on the antidumping case, the ministry concluded US imports did not cause injury to the domestic apple industry.
Fred Scarlett of Northwest Fruit Exporters, the organisation involved in coordinating US defence efforts, said the favourable outcome for Washington State apple exporters was the result of thorough responses to all of the information requested by the ministry.
“Our industry knows the importance of the Mexican market,” Scarlett explained. “Industry efforts to fully comply with all information requested, and the united response proved to the Ministry of Economy that there was no injury caused to Chihuahua growers by our exports.”
The Ministry of Economy opened the investigation in December 2014 following a request from the Regional Fruit Producers Association from the State of Chihuahua (UNIFRUT), who alleged US apples were being sold in Mexico below the cost of production, thereby crippling local producers.
The US is the primary supplier of imported apples into Mexico, with Washington accounting for roughly 90 per cent of total US shipments to the market. Mexico is the largest export market for Washington apples, with over 11m cartons shipped during the 2013/14 season, generating an estimated US$230m in sales.
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