U.S. importers of citric acid and certain citrate salts from India are now required to deposit preliminary antidumping duties ranging from 98.22% to 149.74%.
The U.S. Department of Commerce published its affirmative preliminary determination on August 26, 2026. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will suspend liquidation of covered entries made on or after that date and collect cash deposits at the applicable rate.
The unusually high rates could significantly alter sourcing decisions for food and beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, cleaning-product, and industrial companies.
Preliminary Antidumping Deposit Rates
Commerce established the following adjusted cash-deposit rates:
- Daffodil Pharmachem Private Limited: 149.74%
- All other Indian producers and exporters: 98.22%
Commerce assigned Daffodil a preliminary dumping margin of 151.73% based on adverse facts available after the company withdrew from participation in the investigation. The cash deposit rate was adjusted to account for an export subsidy offset identified in the separate countervailing duty investigation.
Commerce assigned an estimated dumping margin of 100.21% to all other producers and exporters, resulting in an adjusted cash-deposit rate of 98.22%.
These deposits are preliminary. The final rates may be higher or lower, and the importer of record remains responsible for the final antidumping duties assessed upon liquidation of the entries.
Which Products Are Covered?
The investigation includes all grades and granulation sizes of the following products in unblended form, whether dry or in solution:
- Citric acid
- Sodium citrate
- Potassium citrate
- Crude calcium citrate
The scope covers hydrous and anhydrous forms of citric acid, the dihydrate and anhydrous forms of sodium citrate, and the monohydrate and monopotassium forms of potassium citrate.
It also includes certain blends containing citric acid, sodium citrate, or potassium citrate when the covered substances constitute at least 40% of the blend by weight.
The scope can therefore reach products that importers may not purchase or describe simply as “citric acid.”
Third-Country Processing May Not Avoid the Duties
Covered Indian merchandise remains within the investigation when it undergoes certain processing in another country before being imported into the United States.
This may include:
- Commingling
- Dilution
- Blending
- Adding or removing ingredients
- Other processing that would not remove the product from scope if performed in India
The scope also includes subject merchandise commingled or blended with citric acid or citrate salts from countries not covered by the investigation. In those circumstances, only the Indian component is subject to the proceeding.
Importers sourcing blends or finished formulations through a third country should obtain records identifying the origin and quantity of each covered component.
A Limited Calcium Citrate Exclusion Applies
The scope excludes calcium citrate that meets United States Pharmacopeia standards and has been mixed with a functional excipient, such as dextrose or starch, when the excipient constitutes at least 2% of the product by weight.
Importers seeking to rely on this exclusion should maintain documentation demonstrating that both requirements are satisfied. A commercial description referring only to “calcium citrate” may not be enough to establish that the product is excluded.
Canada Received a Different Preliminary Result
Commerce conducted a parallel antidumping investigation involving citric acid and certain citrate salts from Canada. It reached a preliminary negative antidumping determination for Canada.
However, that finding does not eliminate all potential trade-remedy exposure for Canadian merchandise. Preliminary countervailing duty measures announced in the separate subsidy investigation remain relevant.
Importers should evaluate antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings independently rather than assuming that a negative result in one investigation removes the requirements imposed under the other.
Immediate Implications for Importers
Cash-deposit rates approaching or exceeding 100% can substantially increase the amount due at entry, working-capital requirements, customs-bond exposure, and the final landed cost of the product.
Because antidumping duties are assessed retrospectively, the preliminary deposit is not necessarily the importer’s final liability. Covered entries will remain suspended until Commerce issues liquidation instructions.
Importers should also review contracts to determine which party bears responsibility for trade-remedy duties and whether pricing or government-charge provisions apply.
Importers of citric acid and citrate salts should:
- Identify the producer and exporter associated with every shipment.
- Confirm whether the merchandise falls within the written scope.
- Review blends and formulations for the 40% threshold.
- Trace Indian components that are processed or blended in third countries.
- Verify the applicable antidumping and countervailing duty deposit rates.
- Review customs-bond sufficiency and working-capital requirements.
- Confirm that contracts do not include prohibited reimbursement arrangements.
- Maintain records supporting any claimed exclusion.
- Monitor the final Commerce and U.S. International Trade Commission determinations.
Importers should not rely solely on the HTSUS classification. The written scope controls whether merchandise is covered.
ASK ALBA™
Contact the Alba team for assistance reviewing product scope, supplier-specific deposit rates, third-country processing, or customs-bond exposure.
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