Journal of Vrit ,iih viil and *-/'rp./ m. Eniooic, 35,2( August 2003 '- !y'h
 t 2003 Southern Agricultural Economics Assciation





U.S.-Canadian Tomato Wars: An

Economist Tries to Make Sense Out of

Recent Antidumping Suits



John J. VanSickle, Edward A. Evans, and Robert D. Emerson


 U.S. growers filed an .iniiitnimpin ira .,g.iinni Canadian grower' of rTir iienhmj..e rimn
 tomatoes .illegrin that I.1' hgrL.-rs were being injured, or hreaienedi with material injury,
 by imttports Ililurn C.lr.tl.i. The U.S. MDeparinemn iiL' Cin-iiuiiCnes d4eterlined tiat ifnprts of
 greenhiuse-grown tormatos were ibing sold in U.S. markets at less than fair maket value.
 The U.S. Interi-tional Trjde Commiission determined the "like pro'du, l to be .ill fresh
 market tomatoes, L.LLntludJn- tihe domestic industry was "not il.ler.lll injured Arnecdoal
 evidence used by the Commission tDep.lrl..nl in .klekilrninng like product ignores the
 wealth of kiin, ledgi that economics can add. An economic model is pr.lpo,'dt for purpose
 ofl determining like product

 hK i Words: amiduminpinig. law, to tom trade. U.S.-Canada

 JEL Chuisificationit. F13. 1- 17, K.3. (17


The U.S.-C.anadi:n trade dispute filed by U.S.
greenhou.Le groiCer against the Canadian
grouer. of L'rcnhi.us.e-gro% n fresh tomatoes
pro idJ- an interesting insight into trade law
and dispute resolution and dcnm,'ns.r.it.c the
need for inrlcrporating mre economic analy-
ses when adJiuJudiL.in trade dispute The
trade dispute aith CamIid in the fresh tomato
market is preceded by the many cases that
have been filed by U.S. growers of fresh to-
Imatoes .;i.inlt tle'\ico. A review Io tlhos pe-
titions provides an interesting and inltrmnaliilL
backdrop for discussion about the U.S,-Ca-
nadian cases and the role of economics in de


John J. VanSickle is professor and director. Edward A.
Evans is ibasstaint hitiar. and Robert D. Eitrson is
pfoie,,ir. International Aricultural Trade and Pohlil.
Center. Food and Resource Econonuis department,
ULiversity of Forida, G. iilit.-i lk FL
 Suupprn was provided by Florida \gri.ulitLr.,I
Compecilivencss and Trade project rom the HirniL
TD-eiarlilnllt of ,1:ip ultliun and Consuimer Scrvice.s


icrminini the outcomes in [hich' cases. The
specific concern of this paper is the extent to
which the U.S, International ITade Commis-
sion ITC' makes systematic us of market
data in dchlinng the "domestic like produL.r
and the scope lI the .IIeLIeed "domestic in-
dustry." In view of the critical part such de-
terminations pil.i in a tinjl determination ot
whether injury has occurred, it is p'.icd here
that an approach more transparent than the one
currently employed could be more appropriate
in such determinations. A ,implo. prat.lital.
market-Lbaed approach that would assist the
relevant jagenfic. in drtwing conclusions on
like product is ulc -.ieuil "I'lh ITC looks for
"clear Jli idinri line, inuiong |w)%ihile like
pis ]u Ll and Jdi el~.i d minor variations."' We
begin our discussion with a hrine overview of


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