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Cane refiners file ITC case on Mexican agreement

Two U.S. sugar cane refiners have petitioned the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to investigate whether the U.S.-Mexican agreement on sugar announced last month actually removes the injury to the domestic sugar industry, Inside U.S. Trade reported last week.

Imperial Sugar and AmCane Sugar, two key sugar refiners, claimed in separate petitions that the suspension agreements halting the antidumping and countervailing duty cases on Mexican sugar failed to completely remove the injury to the domestic industry, in breach of the law, and actually would make things worse for sugar refiners, Inside U.S. Trade said in its January 9 edition.

Sources close to the trade case said the refiners had filed the petitions because they feared the terms of the final suspension agreements could pave the way for Mexico to ship less raw sugar to the United States and more refined sugar than has been the case in recent years, Inside U.S. Trade added.

The ITC by law must initiate an investigation into their claims if they were properly filed and complete an investigation within 75 days of the petition being filed.

The American Sugar Alliance, which represents the cane and beet growers who brought the case charging that Mexico was exporting subsidized sugar to the United States and had praised the agreement, declined to comment on the grounds that the situation is a legal matter.