Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from China; Institution of Five-Year Reviews

This trade measure concerns antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) treatment for citric acid and certain citrate salts from China. AD duties address alleged sales at less than normal value, while CVD duties address alleged government subsidies. A five-year review, also called a sunset review, examines whether ending the orders would likely lead to continued or recurring dumping or subsidization and injury to a U.S. industry.

The review typically affects Chinese producers and exporters, U.S. importers, and entries of products that fall within the legal scope of the orders. The product description and technical characteristics control coverage; an HTS classification is useful for screening but does not by itself decide whether merchandise is covered. A review notice is not necessarily a new duty or a change to the existing orders, so importers should verify the current official status and applicable instructions before entry.

What to check

• Read the official scope language and compare the product’s ingredients, chemical form, grade, packaging, and intended use; ask a customs broker or trade counsel about close cases.
• Confirm the country of origin and identify the actual manufacturer and exporter, not just the seller or shipping location.
• Check the listed HTS classifications only as a starting point, then verify coverage against the written scope and any official rulings or exclusions.
• Review current AD/CVD cash-deposit and liquidation instructions before entry, because importer liability can depend on the producer, exporter, entry date, and applicable order status.
• Keep product specifications, supplier declarations, invoices, and origin records that support the classification and scope analysis.