From 7 January, 2016, the Mexican government is introducing provisional duties on most U.S. apple exports. The measure is being taken in response to an antidumping complaint brought by growers in the Mexican border state of Chihuahua, for which the investigation is continuing.
Mexico is the leading export market for U.S. apples, and roughly 85 percent of those exports come from Washington.
Under Mexico’s provisional ruling, published Wednesday in its Diario Oficial, all U.S. exporters of apples will have to pay duties, with the exception of Monson Fruit, CPC International and Washington Fruit and Produce.
The duties range from 2.44 percent to 20.82 percent, with an average for most companies of 7.55 percent.
The Northwest Fruit Exporters said in a statement that "these anti-dumping duties are unjustified," and they believe the investigation should have been dropped.
The Chihuahua growers’ association UNIFRUT, alleged in December 2014 that U.S. apples entered the Mexican market in 2013 at below fair market value. The Ministry of Economy or Economia, launched an investigation.
About 40 U.S. apple companies submitted information to Economia, and a sample of those were selected to submit additional information for the ongoing investigation, among them some of the biggest apple shippers in the world.
Among Washington growers, Mexico is a critical export market for shippers of Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples.
Mexican trade officials last imposed duties on U.S. shipments from 1996 to 2010. They were lifted after a NAFTA review panel determined they had used outdated calculations.
