diff --git a/main/src/com/google/refine/importers/ExcelImporter.java b/main/src/com/google/refine/importers/ExcelImporter.java
index bf4b8500d..0a221931a 100644
--- a/main/src/com/google/refine/importers/ExcelImporter.java
+++ b/main/src/com/google/refine/importers/ExcelImporter.java
@@ -223,8 +223,7 @@ public class ExcelImporter extends TabularImportingParserBase {
                 value = d;
             }
         } else {
-            // TODO: Why are we changing input value during import?
-            String text = cell.getStringCellValue().trim();
+            String text = cell.getStringCellValue();
             if (text.length() > 0) {
                 value = text;
             }