CUMULATION AND ITC DECISION-MAKING - THE SUM OF THE PARTS IS GREATER-THAN THE WHOLE

In 1984 Congress amended the antidumping and countervailing duty laws, mandating that the International Trade Commission (ITC) ''cumulate'' imports across countries when determining injury. We estimate that cum ulation increases the probability 4 an affirmative injury determinatio n by 20 to 30 percent and has changed the ITC's decision (from negativ e to affirmative) for about one-third of cumulated cases. We also show that the protective effect 4 cumulation increases as the number of co untries involved increases, holding import market share constant. That is, cumulated imports have a super-additive effect on ITC decision-ma king.