The U.S. Department of Commerce issued separate statements regarding anti-dumping duties put in place in the early 1990s against imports from Japan, Mexico, and Venezuela. In a fast-tracked report issued in March 2000, the department said, "Based on our analysis of the comments received [from interested parties], we find that revocation of the anti-dumping duty order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at the following percentage weighted-average margins: Nihon Cement (69.89%), Onoda Cement (70.52%), and all others (70.223%)." The report was issued after the department announced in August 1999 it was initiating a "sunset review" of the anti-dumping duty order on cement and clinker from Japan. After receiving no response from the Japanese companies, the department determined it would expedite its decision.

Shortly before this announcement, the department also issued a preliminary determination that dumping would likely continue or recur at high dumping margins if the current anti-dumping remedies were revoked against imports from Mexico and Venezuela. These findings were issued as part of sunset reviews of the anti-dumping order on cement from Mexico and the suspended anti-dumping investigation on cement from Venezuela.

The department preliminarily found that revocation of the duties on imports from Mexico would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at a margin of 59.91%. This finding is consistent with the department's findings in all eight annual administrative reviews of the anti-dumping order that have been completed to date (the results of the most recent review were announced March 6, 2000) that Cemex continues dumping cement into the United States at high margins despite the existence of the order. The department's March 6 ruling ruled that Cemex is liable for payment of an estimated US$12.8 million in anti-dumping duties, covering import entries during August 1997 to July 1998.

With respect to Venezuela, the department preliminarily found that terminating the suspended anti-dumping investigation would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at a margin of 49.26%. The Commerce Department will issue its final results of these sunset reviews no later than June 27, 2000.