The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled, in a 4-0 vote, there was a reasonable indication that domestic herbicide manufacturers were hurt by dumping of imported 2,4-D weedkiller from China and India. The ITC vote allows the Commerce Department to continue its investigation of the imports.
The Commerce Department was expected to makes preliminary decision by late June if countervailing duties are appropriate and by mid-September if antidumping duties should be imposed.
Corteva Agriscience, a U.S. seed and agricultural chemical company, asked in March for an investigation of the imported 2,4-D on grounds it was damaging the American ag chemical sector. The National Corn Growers Association said it was “disappointed that ITC did not listen to the feedback from farmers” about rising costs of production and the adverse impact if countervailing or antidumping tariffs were imposed on the imported herbicide.