 |
|
NEWS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Chuck Conner or Shannon Shoesmith October 22, 2001 CORN REFINERS APPLAUD WTO APPELLATE RULING The Corn Refiners Association, Inc. today applauded a decision by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body declaring that Mexico's antidumping duties on U.S.-produced high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are illegal. Charles F. Conner, President of the Corn Refiners Association, stated, "I am grateful to the WTO dispute settlement process for its third and final ruling against this three-year antidumping order." Mexico imposed final antidumping duties on imports of HFCS in January 1998. The U.S. Trade Representative challenged the legality of the duties and a WTO panel ruled against Mexico on January 27, 2000. Mexico attempted to comply with the panel's decision by issuing a redetermination of their existing duties. The WTO panel ruled against the legality of this redetermination on June 22, 2001. Mexico appealed this ruling and has now lost the appeal. Conner stated, "Having exhausted all appeal rights before the WTO, it is time for Mexico to come into compliance by removal of the antidumping order. The credibility of international dispute settlement dictates that Mexico can no longer avoid compliance with its trade obligations." A North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) panel also ruled against Mexico's antidumping order on August 3, 2001, and gave the Government of Mexico 90 days to come into compliance. This case was filed by the Corn Refiners Association on February 20, 1998. Editor's Note: The WTO Appellate Body report is available at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/132abrw_e.pdf. For more information on the corn refining industry, visit the Corn Capsules newsletter page. 
|