JIANGSU ZHONGJI LAMINATION MATERIALS CO., (HK) LTD., JIANGSU ZHONGJI LAMINATION MATERIALS CO., LTD., JIANGSU ZHONGJI LAMINATION MATERIALS STOCK CO., LTD. AND JIANGSU HUAFENG ALUMINIUM INDUSTRY CO., LTD., Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES, Defendant, and ALUMINIUM ASSOCIATION TRADE ENFORCEMENT WORKING GROUP AND ITS INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS, Defendant-Intervenors.
Court No. 18-00091
UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
August 15, 2019
Slip Op. 19-111; PUBLIC VERSION
Gary S. Katzmann, Judge
OPINION
[The court grants Commerce’s request for a remand to reassess its VAT calculation and sustains Commerce’s determinations on all other issues.]
Dated: August 15, 2019
Aimee Lee, Senior Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice, of Washington, DC, argued for defendant. With her on the brief were Joseph H. Hunt, Assistant Attorney General, Jeanne E. Davidson, Director, and Tara K. Hogan, Assistant Director. Of counsel on the brief was Khalil N. Gharbieh, Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement & Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, of Washington, DC.
John H. Herrmann and Joshua R. Morey, Kelley Drye & Warren, LLP, of Washington, DC, argued for defendant-intervenors. With them on the brief were Paul C. Rosenthal, Kathleen W. Cannon, and Grace W. Kim.
Katzmann, Judge: This case involves a challenge to the Department of Commerce’s (“Commerce”) selection of surrogate values for exports from a nonmarket economy in an antidumping duty investigation. Plaintiff Jiangsu Zhongji Lamination Materials Company (“Zhongji”), a mandatory respondent in Commerce’s investigation on
JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
This court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to
BACKGROUND
I. Legal and Regulatory Framework for Surrogate Value Selections.
Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States for less than “fair value” – that is, for a lower price than in its home market. Sioux Honey Ass’n v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 672 F.3d 1041, 1046 (Fed. Cir. 2012). To prevent dumping, Congress enacted the Tariff Act of 1930 (“Act”), which empowered Commerce to investigate the extent to which an imported product is being dumped аnd impose offsetting duty rates. Id. at 1047. The Act allows various interested parties, including domestic trade or business associations in the affected industry, to petition Commerce to initiate an antidumping duty investigation.
Once Commerce has initiated an investigation, it determines whether dumping is occurring by comparing the export price of the merchandise in question with the “normal value” of the merchandise when it is sold for consumption in the exporting country.
To select a market economy country from which it will draw surrogate values, Commerce first requests that its Enforcement аnd Compliance Office of Policy assemble a list of countries that are, “to the extent possible,” (A) “at a level of economic development comparable to that of
the nonmarket economy country,” and (B) “significant producers of comparable merchandise.”
When several countries meet these threshold criteria, Commerce decides which among them offers the “best factors data” with preference for the following: “investigation or review period-wide price averages, prices specific to the input in question, prices that are net of taxes and import duties, prices that are contemporaneous with the period of investigation or review, and publicly available data.” Policy Bulletin 04.1: Non-Market Economy Surrogate Country Selection Process (Mar. 1, 2004) (available at: http://enforcement.trade.gov/policy/bull04-1.html) (hereinafter “Policy Bulletin 04.1”).
Statute requires Commerce to value a respondent’s factors of production using the “best available information.”
In reviewing Commerce’s choice of information, “[the] court’s duty is ‘not to evaluate whether the information Commerce used was the best available, but rather whether a reasonable mind could conclude that Commerce chose the best available information.’” Zhejiang Dunan Hetian Metal Co. v. United States, 652 F.3d 1333, 1341 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (quoting Goldlink Indus. Co. v. United States, 30 CIT 616, 619, 431 F. Supp. 2d 1323, 1327 (2006)). The reviewing court must consider “the record as a whole, including that which ‘fairly detracts from its weight,’” Nippon Steel Corp .v. United States, 458 F.3d 1345, 1351 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (quoting Universal Camera v. NLRB, 340 U.S. 474, 477 (1951)), and must affirm Commerce’s conclusion “if it is reasonable and supported by the record as a whole, even if some evidence detracts from the [agency]’s conclusion.” Id. at 1352 (quoting Altx, Inc. v. United States, 370 F.3d 1108, 1121 (Fed. Cir. 2004)).
II. Factual and Procedural History of the Antidumping Order
A. Petition and Selection of Respondents
Commerce received an antidumping duty petitiоn concerning imports of certain aluminum foil from the PRC, filed on behalf of the Aluminum Association Trade Enforcement Working Group and its individual members (“Defendant-Intervenors”). See Letter on Behalf of Petitioners to the Dep’t re: Petitions for the Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties (Mar. 9, 2017), P.R. 1–11. In response, Commerce initiated an antidumping duty investigation on aluminum foil from the PRC. See Certain Aluminum Foil from the People’s Republic of China: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation,
companies, Commerce selected Zhongji as one of three mandatory respondents1 for individual examination. See Mem. re: Respondent Selection (May 22, 2017), P.R. 177. The other mandatory respondents were Dingsheng Aluminum Industries (Hong Kong) Trading Co. Ltd. and Hangzhou Dingsheng Import & Export Co. Ltd. (collectively, “Dingsheng”). Id.
B. Comments on Surrogate Value Selection
Commerce entered into the record a list of six market economy countries satisfying the threshold criteria of
Parties submitted comments on Commerce’s selection of the primary surrogate country. Zhongji suggested that other countries besides those on the list might satisfy the statutory
requirements but did not identify any specific alternatives. See Letter Pertaining to Jiangsu Zhongji Surrogate Country Comments at 2–4 (June 23, 2017), P.R. 203. Dingsheng commented that all six list countries were economically comparable to the PRC and that five of the six list countries -- all except Mexico -- were significant producers of comparable merchandise. See Letter on Behalf of Dingsheng re: Surrogate Comments at 2–3 (June 23, 2017), P.R. 205. Defendant-Intervenors also commented that all six list countries were economically comparable and noted that only South Africa and Bulgaria were net exporters of aluminum foil during the POI. See Letter on Behalf of Petitioners re: Surrogate Country Comments at 3–4 (June 23, 2017), P.R. 204. Defеndant-Intervenors stated that they were unable to identify the best surrogate country from the list at this time because (1) respondents Zhongji and Dingsheng had not yet responded to Section D of Commerce’s antidumping questionnaire and (2) issues relating to the level of vertical integration of the respondents were not clearly established on the administrative record. Id. at 4–6.
Defendant-Intervenors argued in rebuttal comments that, in determining whether list countries were significant producers of
Defendant-Intervenors, Dingsheng, and Zhongji began submitting preliminary surrogate value comments and information on July 17, 2017. Defendant-Intervenors submitted publicly available information from South Africa to value respondents’ factors of production and a 2016 financial statement of South African aluminum foil producer Hulamin to value respondеnts’
financial ratios. See Letter on Behalf of Petitioners re: Petitioners’ Submission of South African Surrogate Value Info at 1–5 (July 17, 2017), Ex. ZA-1–ZA-5, ZA-7, P.R. 243–49. Pursuant to Policy Bulletin 10.2: Inclusion of International Freight Costs When Import Prices Constitute Normal Value (Nov. 1, 2010) (available at: https://enforcement.trade.gov/policy/PB-10.2.pdf), Defendant-Intervenors submitted values for freight and marine insurance so that Commerce could adjust the South African import values, which were reported on a free on board (“FOB”) basis, to a cost insurance and freight (“CIF”) basis.2 See Letter on Behalf of Petitioners re: Petitioners’ Submission of South African Surrogate Value Info at 2–3.
Dingsheng submitted publicly-available information from Bulgaria, including a 2016 financial statement from Bulgarian aluminum foil producer Alcomet, to value its factors of production and financial ratios. See Letter on Behalf of Dingsheng re: Dingsheng’s First Surrogate Value Submission at Exs. 1–6 (July 17, 2017), P.R. 231–32. Dingsheng also submitted ocean freight rates from a database published by Descartes. Id. at Exs. 7–11. Zhongji submitted publicly available Bulgarian data to value its factors of production and financial ratios, see Letter on Behalf of Zhongji re: Surrogate Value Selection Comments at 2–5, Exs. SV-1–SV-7, SV-9–SV-10 (July 17, 2017), P.R. 237–42, and submitted proprietary internationаl freight values from Xeneta. Id. at 5, Ex. SV-8.
Zhongji, Dingsheng, and Defendant-Intervenors all submitted surrogate value rebuttal comments on July 31, 2017. Zhongji argued that the South African data submitted by Defendant-Intervenors were not appropriate because: (1) certain South African surrogate values were distorted by subsidies; (2) the values from Bulgaria were more specific to Zhongji’s inputs than the South African values; and (3) the South African labor value was less contemporaneous with the POI. See Letter on Behalf of Zhongji re: Rebuttal Surrogate Value Comments at 3–13 (July 31, 2017), P.R.
Dingsheng argued in its rebuttal comments that: (1) export controls distorted the South African metal market; (2) Hulamin’s production experience did not represent that of the respondents; and (3) Defendant-Intervenors’ labor values were incorrectly based on a 40-hour work week. See Letter on Behalf of Dingsheng re: Rebuttal Surrogate Value Comments (July 31, 2017), P.R. 270.
Defendant-Intervenors argued in their rebuttal comments that: (1) Zhongji’s value submissions for labor, energy, and variоus material and packing inputs relied on information that was incorrect and unsupported by the record; and (2) use of proprietary Xeneta values for international freight was inappropriate and inconsistent with Commerce’s practice of relying on publicly available values. See Letter on Behalf of Petitioners re: Surrogate Value Rebuttal Information and Comments at 2–22 (July 31, 2017), P.R. 275–76.
C. Preliminary Determination and Case Briefs to Commerce
Commerce deferred its preliminary determination beyond the statutory deadline in order to allow full review of the PRC’s status as a nonmarket economy. See Letter re: Deferral of
Preliminary Determination (Oct. 13, 2017), P.R. 331. In its affirmative preliminary determination of sales at less-than-fair value, Commerce concluded that the PRC was still a nonmarket economy and selected South Africa as the primary surrogate market economy country to value the respondents’ inputs. See Antidumping Duty Investigation of Certain Aluminum Foil from the People’s Republic of China: Affirmative Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less-Than-Fair Value and Postponement of Final Determination, 82 Fed. Reg. 50,858 (Dep’t Commerce Nov. 2, 2017) (“Preliminary Determination”), P.R. 342, and accompanying decision memorandum (Dep’t Commercе Oct. 26, 2017), P.R. 336 (“PDM”).
The parties had only submitted surrogate value data for Bulgaria and South Africa, so Commerce assessed which of those two countries provided the best available data by considering whether the data were publicly available, contemporaneous with the POI, representative of a broad market average, tax and duty-exclusive, and specific to the inputs being valued. PDM at 10. Commerce concluded that the South African data were the best available because
the record contains complete, publicly available, contemporaneous, and specific South African data which represent a broad market average, and which are tax and duty exclusive, for the majority of inputs used by the respondents to produce subject merchandise during the POI. In addition, the South African surrogate financial statements on the record include publicly available statements for a company which produces identical merchandise.
PDM at 11 (internal footnotes omitted).
Using South Africa as the primary surrogate country, Commerce preliminarily calculated antidumping margins of 96.81 percent for Zhongji and 162.24 percent for Dingsheng. PDM at 21. Commerce verified Zhongji’s sales and factors of production responses from December 4, 2017 to December 11, 2017 and issued a report on its verification. See Mem. re: Verification of the Questionnaire Responses of Zhongji (Jan. 24, 2018), P.R. 425.
Zhongji filed an affirmative case brief arguing that Commerce’s selection of South Africa over Bulgaria as the primary
Defendant-Intervenors argued in their case brief that Commerce’s selection of South Africa was supported by substantial evidence because: (1) the alleged South African aluminum subsidies were not actionable under U.S. countervailing duty laws; (2) the Hulamin financial statement was sufficient to calculate surrogate financial ratios; (3) the absence of values for nitrogen and argon gas in the Bulgarian data rendered the South African data superior notwithstanding the lack of contemporaneous labor data from South Africa; (4) Commerce reasonably adjusted the South African FOB import statistics to CIF values; and (5) any additional specificity of the Bulgarian data was nullified by the respondents’ mixing and modification of that data in their calculation of surrogate values. See Letter on Behalf of Petitioners re: Rebuttal Brief at 3–6, 11–28 (Feb. 6,
2018), P.R. 445–46. Defendant-Intervenors also argued that Commerce: (1) correctly valued Zhongji’s aluminum scrap using HTS subheading 7602.00 (aluminum waste and scrap); (2) correctly calculated Zhongji’s VAT adjustment; (3) should rely on data from Maersk or the Descartes data submitted by Dingsheng to value ocean freight, as the Xeneta data submitted by Zhongji require a paid subscription and are not therefore publicly available; and (4) did not nullify its preliminary determination by deferring past the statutory deadline. See id. at 30–31, 43–47, 56–58, 60–62.
D. Final Determination
In its final determination, Commerce continued to select South Africa as the primary surrogate country. See Certain Aluminum Foil from the People’s Republic of China: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 83 Fed. Reg. 9,282 (Dep’t Commerce Mar. 5, 2018), P.R. 454, and accompanying issues and decision memorandum at 7–8 (Dep’t Commerce Feb. 26, 2018), P.R. 451 (“IDM”). Commerce concluded that the record contained South African data for all factors of production, but that the record lacked usable Bulgarian data for nitrogen and argon gases. IDM at 8. Commerce found no actionable subsidies in either the aluminum industry or electricity in South Africa, and no evidence that Hulamin specifically benefitted from any actionable subsidy. Id. at 9. Commerce decided that the methodology used to calculate financial ratios from Hulamin’s financial statement was consistent with methodology used by Commerce in the past, eliminating any concern that the resulting surrogаte values were flawed. Id. at 10.
VAT; and (4) reject Zhongji’s claim that deferral beyond the statutory deadline voided its preliminary determination. Id. at 7–16, 18–23, 35.
Following the International Trade Commission’s affirmative injury determination, Commerce published the antidumping duty order. Certain Aluminum Foil from the People’s Republic of China: Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty Order, 83 Fed. Reg. 17,362 (Dep’t Commerce Apr. 19, 2018), P.R. 468 (“Order”).
E. Procedural History
On May 7, 2018, Zhongji filed a complaint with this court seeking review of Commerce’s Order. Zhongji filed its brief on October 16, 2018. Mem. of Points and Auth. in Supp. of R. 56.2 Mot. for J. on the Agency R., Oct. 16, 2018, ECF Nos. 24-1, 25 (“Pls.’ Br.”). The Government and Defendant-Intervenors filed their response briefs on February 25, 2019. Def.’s Resp. to Mot. for J. Upon the Agency R., Feb. 25, 2019, ECF Nos. 33–34 (“Def.’s Br.”); Def.-Inters.’ Resp. in Opp’n to Pls.’ Mot. for J. on the Agency R., Feb. 25, 2019, ECF Nos. 35–36 (“Def.-Inters.’ Br.”). Zhongji filed its reply brief on April 22, 2019. Reply Br. in Supp. of R. 56.2 Mot. for J. on the Agency R., Apr. 22, 2019, ECF Nos. 48–49 (“Pls.’ Reply”). Oral argument was held оn July 16, 2019. ECF No. 61.
DISCUSSION
Zhongji’s arguments before this court mirror the arguments in its affirmative brief to Commerce following Commerce’s preliminary determination. Zhongji argues that Commerce erred in: (1) selecting South Africa as the primary surrogate country; (2) relying on Descartes data instead of Xeneta data to value international freight; (3) valuing Zhongji’s aluminum scrap using the incorrect HTS classification; (4) calculating Zhongji’s VAT adjustment based on the wrong
transaction; and (5) deferring its preliminary determination beyond the statutory deadline. For the reasons stated below, the court affirms Commerce’s selection of South Africa as the primary surrogate country for valuing Zhongji’s factors of production, and affirms Commerce’s selection of data to value Zhongji’s aluminum scrap and international freight. Additionally, the court grants Commerce’s request for a remand to recalculate its VAT adjustment using the correct sale price. Finally, the court finds that Commerce’s violation of the statutory deadline in issuing its affirmative preliminary determination did not negate that determination or the ensuing collection of duty deposits.
I. Commerce’s Selection of South Africa as the Primary Surrogate Country Was Supported by Substantiаl Evidence.
Zhongji contends that Commerce’s selection of South Africa as the primary surrogate country was unsupported by substantial evidence because the South African aluminum foil industry was distorted by subsidies while the Bulgarian aluminum foil industry was not. Pls.’ Br. at 11. Commerce reasonably determined that the evidence presented by Zhongji failed to satisfy the “reason to believe or suspect” standard for evaluating the presence of subsidies, and the precedent cited by Zhongji is distinguishable. Zhongji also
that the less-specific South African data would distort surrogate values. Commerce reasonably determined that the alleged flaws in the South African data were unsubstantiated or relatively insignificant, and the court therefore affirms Commerce’s selection of South Africa as the primary surrogate country.
A. Commerce Reasonably Concluded that South Africa’s Aluminum Market Was Not Distorted by Subsidies.
Zhongji claims that the South African aluminum foil industry was distorted by subsidies, and that Commerce therefore erred in selecting South Africa over Bulgaria as the primary surrogate country. Pls.’ Br. at 11. When more than one country is at a comparable level of economic development to the nonmarket economy country in question and produces a significant amount of comparable merchandise, Commerce selects the primary surrogate country from the qualified candidates by deciding which country offers the best available information and the best factors data in accordance with Policy Bulletin 04.1. When selecting surrogate values, Commerce declines to use prices that the agency has “reason to believe or suspect may be dumped or subsidized.” Weishan Hongda Aquatic Food Co. v. United States, 917 F.3d 1353, 1365 n.9 (Fed. Cir. 2019) (quoting H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 100-576 at 590–91 (1988), reprinted in 1988 U.S.C.C.A.N. 1623-24.). In investigating whether a price is subsidized, the statute’s drafters did not “intend for Commerce to conduct a formal investigation . . . but rather intend[ed] that Commerce base its decision on information generally available to it at the time.” Id.
Zhongji contends that Commerce’s selection of South Africa was unsupported by substantial evidence because there was reason to believe or suspect that South African aluminum foil prices were distorted by subsidies. Pls.’ Br. at 11. Specifically, Zhongji cites a Gauteng High
Court3 decision and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”) report showing that South Africa engaged in domestic price supports and export restraints on scrap metals to make South African aluminum producers more competitive. Id. at 9. According to Zhongji, this evidence satisfies the three-pronged test for the “believe or suspect” standard implemented by this court in Fuyao Glass Indus. Grp. Co. v. United States, 29 CIT 109 (2005):
to
justify a finding with respect to subsidization, Commerce must demonstrate by specific and objective evidence that (1) subsidies of the industry in question existed in the supplier cоuntries during the period of investigation; (2) the supplier in question is a member of the subsidized industry or otherwise could have taken advantage of any available subsidies; and (3) it would have been unnatural for a supplier to not have taken advantage of such subsidies.
Id. at 114. Zhongji claims that even if the South African aluminum foil industry did not directly benefit from a government subsidy, it indirectly benefitted from the suppression of metal scrap prices as the market adjusted to the influx of price-controlled scrap. Pls.’ Br. at 13. These arguments are unpersuasive.
The subsidies alleged by Zhongji do not meet the “reason to believe or suspect” standard. When there is evidence of a potential subsidy but Commerce has not previously found the specific program to be countervailable, Commerce does not per se reject the data in question and requires evidence of distortion before it will reject it. See Yantai Xinke Steel Structure Co. v. United States, 2014 Ct. Intl. Trade LEXIS 39 at *61 (Apr. 9, 2014). Commerce had not found the alleged subsidies to be countervailable, and evidence of distortion was therefore required to compel
Commerce to reject the South African data. Def.’s Br. at 15. Additionally, Commerce is not required to follow the Fuyao framework advocаted for by Zhongji. See Gold East Paper (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd. v. United States, 39 CIT __, __, 121 F. Supp. 3d 1304, 1307–08 (2015) (finding that Fuyao is not the only reasonable method for evaluating whether evidence meets the believe or suspect standard). Even if it were, the Fuyao court stated that Commerce should demonstrate each prong with “specific and objective evidence,” which Zhongji has not provided. 29 CIT at 114. The OECD report and Gauteng High Court decision suggest that subsidy programs may have existed in South Africa, but do not specify that Hulamin, the South African aluminum foil producer in question, participated in such programs. Hulamin’s financial statement acknowledges the existence of government assistance programs, but the mere mention of a subsidy is insufficient to disqualify surrogate data without further evidence that the company actually received the subsidy. See Clearon Corp. v. United States, 35 CIT 1685, 800 F. Supp. 2d 1355, 1358 (2011); infra p. 19. The alleged subsidies thus did not meet the “reason to believe or suspect” standard.
Zhongji also claims that Commerce should have followed past cases in which it found similar subsidies to be countervailable. Pls.’ Br. at 14. Zhongji cites a countervailing duty investigation in which Commerce found export restraints on Chinese primary aluminum to be countervailable. See Certain Aluminum Foil from the People’s Republic of China: Final Affirmativе Determination, 83 Fed. Reg. 9,274 (Dep’t Commerce Mar. 5, 2018). The facts of that investigation are distinguishable from the present case. Most importantly, the Chinese policy was the subject of a countervailing duty investigation by Commerce, and the South African policy is not. Additionally, the two cases address different countries (South Africa and the PRC) and different products (aluminum scrap and primary aluminum), and the government programs in question are different: the PRC was imposing a 30 percent export tariff on the subject merchandise,
whereas South Africa was requiring the subject merchandise to be offered to domestic users at a 20 percent discount before being exported. Pls.’ Br. at 9, 14. Given the difference in circumstances, Commerce
Zhongji further contends that South African aluminum foil producers received subsidies in the form of preferential electricity rates. Id. at 19. Commerce had not previously found South African electricity rates to be countervailable; nonetheless, Zhongji alleges that Commerce’s decision here was unreasonable because, in a past investigation involving Canadian paper, Commerce found preferential electricity rates to be countervailable. Id. (citing Supercalendared Paper From Canada: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 80 Fed. Reg. 63,535 (Dep’t Commerce Oct. 20, 2015)). Again, the determination cited is distinguishable: there, the policy in question was already subject to a countervailable subsidy investigation, unlike the electricity rates in the present case, and here there is no evidence of distortion to satisfy the standard put forth in Yantai Xinke. Commerce was therefore justified in declining to infer that electricity subsidies had distorted the South African aluminum foil market. Thus, given the lack of evidence of distortion by subsidies in the South African aluminum foil market, Commerce reasonably selected South Africa as the primary surrogate country.
B. Commerce Reasonably Relied on Hulamin’s Financial Statement.
Zhongji claims that subsidies for aluminum scrap and electricity distorted the financial statement of South African aluminum foil producer Hulamin, and that Commerce therefore erred in relying on that statement for surrogate values. Pls.’ Br. at 17. As discussed above, when there is evidence of a potential subsidy but Commerce has not previously found thе specific program to be countervailable, Commerce does not per se reject the data and requires evidence of distortion
before it will reject it. See Yantai Xinke, 2014 Ct. Intl. Trade LEXIS at *61. In reviewing financial statements for evidence of countervailable distortions, “a mere mention that a subsidy was received, and for which there is no additional information as to the specific nature of the subsidy” is insufficient for Commerce to exclude the statement. See Clearon Corp., 800 F. Supp. 2d at 1358. The Hulamin statement denoted that “[s]crap export legislation will continue to promote local processing of scrap for the benefit of local industry,” but Zhongji provides no evidence that Hulamin received a specific subsidy or that South Africa’s export controls on metal scrap affected Hulamin’s production and sale of aluminum foil. See Letter on Behalf of Petitioners re: Submission of South African Surrogate Value Info at Ex. ZA–7 (July 17, 2017), P.R. 243–49. As discussed in the preceding section, Commerce was justified in finding that the South African aluminum foil industry, including Hulamin, was not distorted by subsidies on aluminum scrap or electricity.
Zhongji also alleges that Commerce unreasonably selected Hulamin’s financial statement over that of Bulgarian aluminum foil producer Alcomet because the Hulamin statement required Commerce to estimate how labor costs were split between production and other activities using a headcount method. Pls.’ Br. at 20 (citing IDM at 10). Commerce determined in its analysis that the Alcomet statement contained notes indicating that Alcomet’s costs would require a potentially distortive reallocation of financial ratios. IDM at 11. The headcount method used by Commerce to analyze the Hulamin statement was consistent with Commerce’s past practice, Id. at 10, and Zhongji fails to show that use of the headcount method
C. The Relative Specificity of the Bulgarian Data Is Not Dispositive.
Zhongji argues that Commerce erred in selecting South Africa as the primary surrogate country because Bulgaria’s data was superior in various respects. Pls.’ Br. at 21. Some of Zhongji’s arguments in support of this proposition are addressed elsewhere in this opinion.4
According to Zhongji, Commerce’s selection of South Africa was also flawed because Bulgaria’s data was reported at the more specific eight-digit level of HTS product classification codes, while the South African data was only available at the six-digit level. Id. Zhongji claims that the eight-digit codes more accurately classify several of its major inputs including foil stock, rolling oil, rolling oil additive, and packing materials. Id. at 22–26. Several factors undermine this contention: (1) several of respondent Dingsheng’s inputs were more accurately classified by the six-digit South Africa codes; (2) Dingsheng had proposed averaging several eight-digit codes to value its inputs, nullifying any increased specificity offered by those codes; and (3) Zhongji failed to show that the six-digit classifications would notably distort Commerce’s valuations of its products. There is therefore insufficient evidence that the increased specificity of the Bulgarian data is meaningful to Commerce’s calculations, and even if the Bulgarian data were more specific for some inputs, Zhongji puts forth no convincing evidencе that the specificity consideration should outweigh the lack of usable data for nitrogen or argon gases in the Bulgarian data.
Zhongji also contends that the Bulgarian data is superior because its labor data is contemporaneous with the POI and therefore superior to the South African labor data. Id. at 33. Contemporaneity is only one of several factors Commerce weighs in selecting among qualified surrogate country candidates under Policy Bulletin 04.1, and the South African labor data satisfied the other factors: investigation or review period-wide price averages, prices specific to the input in question, prices that are net of taxes and import duties, and publicly available data. Commerce may also prioritize valuing all surrogate values in a single country, a factor which here favored South Africa.
D. The Record as a Whole Supported Selecting South Africa.
Whether it be specificity, contemporaneity, or subsidies, no one flaw in the South African data is sufficient to overrule Commerce‘s discretion in selecting South Africa as the primary surrogate country. Nonetheless, Zhongji argues that it is no single flaw but the totality of relative inadequacies in the South African data that should have compelled Commerce to select Bulgaria instead. Pls.’ Br. at 36. Ultimately, Zhongji claims that Commerce weighed the flaws in the South African data too lightly and those in the Bulgarian data too heavily. In reviewing Commerce‘s selection of the best available information, it is not this court‘s duty “to evaluate whether the information Commerce used was the best available, but rather whether a reasonable mind could conclude that Commerce chose the best available information.” Zhejiang, 652 F.3d at 1341 (quoting Goldlink, 431 F. Supp. 2d at 1327). For the reasons discussed above, Commerce reasonably analyzed the data sets and weighed their relative merits and flaws in accordance with the relevant statutes and regulations. The court therefore affirms Commerce‘s selection of South Africa as the primary surrogate country.
II. Commerce‘s Selection of Data to Value Zhongji‘s Aluminum Scrap Was Supported by Substantial Evidence.
Commerce chose to value Zhongji‘s aluminum scrap using HTS subheading 7602.00, described as “Aluminum Waste and Scrap.” See Mem. re: Surrogate Value for the Preliminary Determination at 5 (Oct. 26, 2017), P.R. 344. Zhongji contends that given the high aluminum content of its scrap, HTS subheading 7601.20 (“Unwrought aluminum: Aluminum alloys“) was more appropriate, and that Commerce had unreasonably ignored record evidence in deciding otherwise. Pls.’ Br. at 36. Commerce based its decision on the fact that Zhongji “accounted for and sold [the material in question] as scrap,” and failed to demonstrate that its aluminum scrap was different from other aluminum scrap commonly available in the South African market. IDM at 35. For the reasons discussed below, the court finds that Commerce acted within its discretion to decide what constitutes the “best available information” when it сhose to value Zhongji‘s aluminum scrap using the HTS subheading that best matched the classification under which Zhongji was selling the scrap, rather than a subheading that may have better accounted for the scrap‘s chemical composition. Qingdao, 766 F.3d at 1386 (affirming that Commerce has broad discretion to determine what constitutes the best available information). Commerce‘s selection of surrogate values for the scrap was therefore supported by substantial evidence, and is affirmed.
Zhongji claims that Commerce failed to consider “prices specific to the input in question” as required by Policy Bulletin 04.1 because Zhongji‘s scrap was more specifically classified as pure aluminum than aluminum scrap, but the record does not support that contention. Pls.’ Br. at 37. Zhongji claims that its scrap was pure enough to be reintroduced into the production process, id., but the aluminum scrap‘s chemical composition was of little consequence given the manner in which Zhongji
Zhongji argues that Commerce arbitrarily valued Zhongji‘s aluminum scrap and Dingsheng‘s recycled aluminum byproduct using different HTS subheadings. Pls.’ Br. at 37. This argument is unpersuasive because the two respondents were not similarly situated regarding this issue. Commerce valued Zhongji‘s aluminum scrap and Dingsheng‘s aluminum scrap using the same subheading, 7602.00. See Memo re: Surrogate Values for the Final Determination at Attach. 1 (Feb. 26, 2018), P.R. 456. Zhongji claims that Commerce should have valued Zhongji‘s aluminum scrap using the same subheading 7601.20 used to value Dingsheng‘s recycled aluminum byproduct, as Zhongji‘s scrap was more chemically similar to Dingsheng‘s recycled aluminum byproduct than to Dingsheng‘s aluminum scrap. Pls.’ Br. at 37. This argument fails to account for the fact that Zhongji and Dingsheng disposed of their aluminum scrap and aluminum byproduct in very different ways. See supra n.5; Letter on Behalf of Zhongji re: Section C & D Questionnaire Response of Zhongji at Ex. D-17 (July 6, 2017), C.R. 197–98; Letter on Behalf of Dingsheng re: Questionnaire Section D Response at 22–23, Ex. D-6 (July 10, 2017), C.R. 221–22. Commerce was consistent in basing its selection of the best available information on the manner in which the respondents actually used the aluminum in question rather than on the aluminum‘s chemical composition, and its valuation of Zhongji‘s aluminum scrap was thus neither arbitrary nor capricious and was consistent with the record. Commerce‘s selection of data to value Zhongji‘s aluminum scrap was supported by substantial evidence and in accordance with law, and is affirmed.
III. Commerce‘s Selection of Data to Value Zhongji‘s International Freight Was Supported by Substantial Evidence.
The cost of international freight is included in the factors of production for which Commerce must obtain surrogate values. See, e.g., China Mfrs. All., LLC v. United States, 43 CIT __, 357 F. Supp. 3d 1364, 1368 (2019). Commerce must therefore, when applicable, select the best available information to value international freight based on its weighing of the factors listed in Policy Bulletin 04.1. Commerce regulations state a preference for publicly available data to value inputs.
Commerce acted within its discretion in selecting data from Descartes over data from Xeneta to value Zhongji‘s international freight costs. Both datasets have advantages and disadvantages. The Descartes data are not contemporaneous with the POI, rely on fewer data points, and require an FOB-to-CIF adjustment, but are publicly available and free of taxes and import duties. Def.‘s Br. at 37–39. Although the Xeneta data are contemporaneous and rely on more data points, they are рroprietary and therefore not publicly available. Id. Commerce‘s decision to weigh these factors in favor of the Descartes data, in light of the regulatory preference for publicly available data, is reasonable and therefore affirmed. See Nippon Steel, 458 F.3d at 1352.
Zhongji argues that the Xeneta data are available to Commerce despite their proprietary nature and cites two past proceedings
Zhongji‘s argument that the FOB-to-CIF adjustment required for the Descartes data would be distortive is also unpersuasive. Pls.’ Br. at 39–40. Zhongji argues that Commerce‘s use of Maersk data to adjust the Descartes freight data from an FOB basis to a CIF basis was erroneous, because Commerce had rejected Maersk‘s data for valuing the international freight itself and because the Maersk data was derived from only two ports. Id. Commerce‘s choice to use Maersk data to value the FOB-to-CIF adjustment but not the base freight rates was reasonable because the record contained supporting documentation for the former but not the latter. See Ministerial Error Mem. at 3–4 (Apr. 12, 2018), P.R. 465; Letter on Behalf of Petitioners re: Surrogate Value Info at Ex. ZA-1 (July 17, 2017), P.R. 243–49. Though the Maersk data was based on imports from only two ports, those ports were of specific relevance to South African import data. See Ministerial Error Mem. at 4. Zhongji failed to show that adjusting the Descartes data to a CIF basis using Maersk data was likely to distort surrogate values, and the need for the adjustment should therefore not weigh against the selection of Descartes over Xeneta. Thus, Commerce‘s selection of data to value Zhongji‘s international freight costs was supported by substantial evidence and in accordance with law, and is affirmed.
IV. Commerce‘s VAT Adjustment Calculation Is Remanded.
Commerce is required to reduce the constructed export price of subject merchandise by “the amount . . . of any export tax, duty, or other charge imposed by the exporting country on the exportation of the subject merchandise to the United States.”
Commerce based its VAT cаlculation in this case on the U.S. price of Zhongji‘s merchandise on resale by Zhongji HK, instead of on the price at which Zhongji sold the merchandise to Zhongji HK. Pls.’ Br. at 40–41. Zhongji pays no VAT on the markup between itself and Zhongji HK, and adds no inputs at
Commerce acknowledges the similarity of this case to Fine Furniture and has accordingly requested a remand to reconsider the price on which it based its VAT adjustment. Def.‘s Br. at 39–40. The Federal Circuit has held that Commerce mаy “request a remand (without confessing error) in order to reconsider its previous position . . . [if] it ha[s] doubts about the correctness of its decision or that decision‘s relationship to [Commerce‘s] other policies.” SKF USA, Inc. v. United States, 254 F.3d 1022, 1029 (Fed. Cir. 2001). The court may refuse a request to remand that is “frivolous or in bad faith,” but if Commerce‘s concern is “substantial and legitimate, a remand is usually appropriate.” Id. Given that Commerce‘s VAT deduction methodology in this case appears to be directly counter to its ultimate methodology in Fine Furniture, Commerce has a substantial and legitimate reason to request a remand here. All parties agree that a remand to base the adjustment calculation on the correct price would be appropriate.6 Therefore, the court grants Commerce‘s request for a remand to recalculate its VAT adjustment using the correct sale price.7
Statute requires Commerce to issue its preliminary determination in antidumping investigations “within 140 days after the date on which [Commerce] initiates an investigation” or within 190 days after thе initiation of an investigation in “extraordinarily complicated” cases.
In Husqvarna Construction Products v. United States, 36 CIT 1618 (2012), this court examined the legality of an administrative review of an antidumping duty order issued after the deadline imposed by
Zhongji contends that Husqvarna is distinguishable because it does not specifically address the provisions of
Zhongji further contends that there is:
no discernible reason to perform the review of China‘s market economy status in the context of the antidumping duty investigation of aluminum foil, nor any indication that the resources dedicated to that effort had any relation to the aluminum foil investigation, nor did Commerce‘s report on China‘s market economy status discuss the Chinese aluminum foil industry.
Pls.’ Reply at 26. These arguments are unpersuasive. An antidumping duty investigation on aluminum foil exported from the PRC must necessarily concern itself with whether the PRC is a nonmarket economy to comply with Additionally, the fact that Commerce did not conduct the review of the PRC‘s nonmarket economy status with the same resources used for this antidumping duty investigation does not negate the benefits to the investigation of awaiting the outcome of the review in order to achieve the most accurate valuation possible. Legislative history indicates that the accuracy of Commerce‘s determinations is equally if not more important than compliance with statutory deadlines.8 Section 1677b prescribes different methods of dumping margin classification for market The court affirms Commerce‘s selection of primary surrogate country and data to value Zhongji‘s aluminum foil inputs, as Commerce was within its discretion under SO ORDERED. /s/ Gary S. Katzmann Gary S. Katzmann, Judge Dated: August 15, 2019CONCLUSION
New York, New York
Notes
If it is not practicable to make individual weighted average dumping margin determinations [in investigations or administrative reviews] because of the large number of exporters or producers involved in the investigation or review, the administering authority may determine the weighted average dumping margins for a reasonable number of exporters or producers by limiting its examination to—
- a sample of exporters, producers, or types of products that is statistically valid based on the information available to the administering authority at the time of selection, or
- exporters and producers accounting or the largest volume of the subject merchandise from the exporting country that can be reasonably examined.
Uruguay Round Agreements Act, Statement of Administrative Action, 1994 U.S.C.C.A.N. 4040, 4202 (Dec. 8, 1994) (emphasis added).The Administration is aware of prior complaints regarding delays in the completion of administrative reviews and the liquidation of entries, and intends to do its utmost to ensure that Commerce and Customs are able to comply with the deadlines established by the bill. At the same time, however, it is not the Administration‘s intent to sacrifice accuracy of results and fairness to the parties involved for the sake of speed.