August 17, 2005

U.S. orders Brazil orange juice duties up to 60 pct

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a preliminary decision, the U.S.
Commerce Department on Wednesday ordered anti-dumping duties
ranging from 24.62 to 60.29 percent on imports of orange juice
from Brazil.

The highest rate of 60.29 percent was ordered on shipments
from Montecitrus Industria e Comercio Ltda, followed by Fischer
Agroindustria at 31.04 percent, and Sucocitrico Cutrale at
24.62 percent, the Commerce Department said.

All other companies will be subject to anti-dumping duties
of 27.16 percent, it said.

The U.S. government launched an investigation last December
after Florida orange juice processors complained that Brazil
was selling frozen concentrated orange juice and
not-from-concentrate orange juice at unfairly low prices.