Commerce Department Finds Argentine Honey Dumped at Low Prices
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Preliminary Results Announced
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has released preliminary findings in the administrative review of antidumping duties on raw honey imported from Argentina. The review looked at the period from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025. Commerce found that two Argentine companies, NEXCO S.A. (NEXCO) and Villamora S.A. (Villamora), sold raw honey in the United States at prices below the normal value.
These are preliminary results, and interested parties are invited to comment on these findings. Commerce selected NEXCO and Villamora as the main companies to review, along with other non-examined companies.
Review Background and Procedures
The Commerce Department started the review on July 25, 2025, after receiving requests for it. The review was delayed due to a government shutdown. However, it resumed once routine operations were restored. The preliminary findings were extended multiple times, with the final preliminary results being announced just before the new deadline on September 8, 2026.
Merchandise and Methodology
The merchandise in focus is raw honey from Argentina. Commerce conducted the review according to U.S. trade laws, specifically sections 751 and 772 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The export price was calculated accordingly, and the normal value was determined to identify any price differences.
Findings for Non-Examined Companies
For companies that were part of the review but were not individually examined, Commerce calculated a rate using the weighted average of the rates given to NEXCO and Villamora. This rate came out to 3.48 percent. This is in line with the procedure for determining rates for non-selected companies when it is not possible to investigate every company individually.
Preliminary Dumping Margins
The preliminary results show the estimated dumping margins. NEXCO was found to have a dumping margin of 1.93 percent, and Villamora had a margin of 6.80 percent.
Opportunities to Comment
Commerce will disclose its calculation results to parties. Interested parties can submit written comments and case briefs up to 21 days after this announcement. They can also submit rebuttal briefs limited to issues raised in others’ briefs five days later.
Parties can request a hearing if needed. They must submit such requests electronically with specific details about participants and issues to be discussed.
Market Impact and Next Steps
The review assesses the impact of dumped goods on the U.S. market and determines additional duties to level the playing field. Following the completion of this review, adjusted cash deposit rates for future shipments of honey from Argentina will be set based on these preliminary results.
The ongoing assessments will also affect importers. Commerce ensures no double duties are collected by verifying if duties are reimbursed before liquidating entries.
Publication and Enforcement
These preliminary findings are published as a formal notice in the Federal Register, ensuring transparency and allowing for fair market practices in international trade.
This announcement forms a part of Commerce’s efforts to regulate fair trade and maintain competitive markets in the U.S. The final results of this review can potentially affect future imports and trade practices concerning honey from Argentina.
Legal Disclaimer
This article includes content collected from the Federal Register (federalregister.gov). The content is not an official government publication. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For case-specific consultation, please contact us. Read our full Legal Disclaimer, which also includes information on translation accuracy.
