PUBLIC VERSION
OPINION AND ORDER
This case resolves challenges to the final antidumping duty determination of the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) for oil country tubular goods (“OCTG”) from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (“Vietnam”). See Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 79 Fed. Reg. 41,973 (Dep’t Commerce July 18, 2014) (final determ.) (“Final Determination”), as amended by Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from India, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, the Republic of Turkey, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 79 Fed. Reg. 53,691 (Dep’t Commerce Sept. 10, 2014) (amended final determ.).
GENERAL BACKGROUND
When foreign merchandise sold for less than fair value in the United States injures or threatens a domestic industry, the United States collects antidumping duties 'on the merchandise. See- 19 U.S.C. § 1673 (2012). To calculate antidumping duties, Commerce contrasts the “export price (or the constructed price)” of the merchandise with the “normal value” (“NV”) of the merchandise, Id. §§ 1673, 1677b(a). In general, the export price reflects the price of the merchandise in the United States, and the normal value is the price of the merchandise in the exporting country. Id. §§ 1677a-1677b.
The method of calculating NV hinges on whether the merchandise comes from an exporter in a market economy (“ME”) or an exporter in a nonmarket economy (“NME”). Id. § 1677b(a)(l), (c)(1). If the merchandise originates in a ME, Commerce typically uses the price of the merchandise in the exporting country. Id. § 1677b(a)(l)(B)(i). But here the source of OCTG is Vietnam, which is a NME. Surrogate Country Selection Mem., PD 186 (Apr. 10, 2014), ECF No. 60.
When merchandise originates in a NME, Commerce bases the NV of the goods on “the value of the factors of production utilized in producing the merchandise” plus an “amount for general expenses and profit plus the cost of containers, coverings, and other expenses.” 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(c)(l)(B). However, in NME countries, the law presumes that government action distorts the cost of the factors of production (“inputs”) actually used to produce the merchandise. Blue Field (Sichuan) Food Indus. Co. v. United States, 37 CIT —, —,
Here, Commerce uses surrogaté values from India to calculate the NV. Surrogate Country Selection Mem., PD 186 (Apr. 10, 2014), ECF No. 60. After determining the surrogate values, Commerce calculates an amount corresponding to other production expenses and profits. Id. § 1677b(c)(l)(B). Specifically, “[b]ecause firms have ‘general expenses and profits’ not traceable to a specific product, in order to capture these expenses and profits, Commerce must factor [into the NV calculation] (1) factory overhead (‘overhead’), (2) selling, general and administrative expenses (‘SG&A’), and (3) profit.” Mittal Steel Galati S.A. v. United States,
With regard to export price, the' relevant background is simpler. To resolve this case, the court need mention only one rule: When calculating export price, or the price of the merchandise in the United States, Commerce must deduct “the amount ... attributable to any additional - costs, charges, or expenses, and United ■ States import duties, which are incident to bringing the subject merchandise from the original place of shipment in the exporting country to the place of delivery in the United States.” 19 U.S.C. § 1677a(c)(2)(A).
After calculating both the export price and the NV, Commerce determines the “dumping margin,” which is the “amount by which the [NV] exceeds the export price.” Id. § 1677(35)(A). This is the foundation of the antidumping duties owed on the foreign merchandise. Id. § 1673. •
In making the above determinations, Commerce relies- on the information in the administrative record, including information submitted by the parties. To gather information from the parties, Commerce issues questionnaires and reviews the resultant submissions of data from the parties. 19 C.F.R. § 351.221(b)(2). Commerce may subsequently issue supplemental questionnaires requesting additional information. Id. § 351.301. If a party is unforth-coming with information, Commerce sometimes applies adverse facts available (“AFA”), which entails making inferences unfavorable to the uncooperative party. Id, § 1677e(a). After reviewing the. administrative record, Commerce issues the preliminary results of its calculation on the dumping margin. 19 C.F.R. § 351.221(b)(4). Interested parties may then submit case briefs and rebuttal case briefs to challenge the findings in the preliminary results. Id. Commerce completes the process by reviewing the challenges and issuing its final determination. Id. § .351.221(b)(5).
U.S. Steel and SSV each argué that Commerce improperly calculated anti-dumping duties on OCTG. U.S. Steel challenges four aspects of Commerce’s calculation. First, U.S. Steel argues that Commerce erred in refusing to apply partial AFA to SSV. Second, U.S. Steel contests Commerce’s valuation of SSVs hot-rolled coil input. Third, U.S. Steel argües that Commerce improperly excluded the cost of the domestic inland insurance that SSV allegedly used to transport OCTG. And fourth, Ú.S. Steel opposes Commerce’s selection.of financial statements for use in calculating the financial statement ratios. U.S. Steel Br. 6-8. The court remands on the second, third, and fourth issues.
SSV challenges, five aspects of Commerce’s calculation. First, SSV argues that Commerce erred when deducting from the export price the brokerage and handling costs on SSV’s exports of OCTG. Second, SSV contests the decision- to adjust the normal value by adding a surrogate value for brokerage and handling services on SSVs imports of inputs. Third, SSV argues that Commerce incorrectly allocated the surrogate values for- brokerage and handling services on SSVs imports of inputs and exports of OCTG. Fourth, SSV opposes the selection of financial statements used to calculate the financial-statement ratios. And fifth, SSV challenges Commerce’s decision to adjust the normal value to account for yield loss on OCTG. SSV Br. 4-11. The- court remands for Commerce to reconsider all five issues.
JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
The court exercises jurisdiction to hear this appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c). The court will sustain the anti-
DISCUSSION
The court remands on all issues excépt the challenge to Commerce’s refusal' to apply partial adverse facts available to SSV.
I. Substantial Evidence Supported Commerce’s Refusal to Apply Partial Adverse Facts Available to . SSV, but the Court Remands for Further Explanation of Commerce’s Valuation of Hot-Rolled Coils.
U.S. Steel argues that Commerce erred in refusing to apply partial AFA to SSV. U.S. Steel Br. 6-7. In particular, U.S. Steel contends that Commerce should apply partial AFA because SSV improperly responded to Commerce’s requests for information regarding SSV’s use of hot-rolled coil (“HRC”). Id.
U.S. Steel also argues that Commerce incorrectly valued the HRC that SSV consumed in the production of OCTG. U.S. Steel Br; 21. Commerce valued the entirety of SSV’s HRC input without separately valuing the three variations of HRC that SSV used. I&D Mem. 34. Thus, U.S. Steel maintains that “Commerce’s decision not to value the three types of [HRC] separately ignored its established practice, disregarded the significant physical and cost differences between the three types of [HRC], and contravened the statute’s mandate.” U.S. Steel Br. 21.
The court finds that Commerce did not err when refusing to apply partial AFA to SSV. However, the court remands for a detailed explanation or, if necessary, a revision of Commerce’s failure to value separately the three variations of HRC.
A. Background
As explained above, when companies from a NME export merchandise, Commerce typically “determine^] the normal value of the subject merchandise on the basis of the value of the factors of production utilized in producing the merchandise.” 19 U.S.C. ■§ 1677b(c)(l)(B). This “valuation of the factors of production shall be based on the best available information regarding, the values of such factors in a [ME] country.” Id. In accordance with this statute, Commerce requested information regarding SSV’s factors of production. Commerce Questionnaire to SSV, PD 56-59 (Aug. 23, 2013), ECF No. 92.
On August, 23, 2013, Commerce asked SSV in its Section D Questionnaire to disclose “each type and grade of material used in the production process.” Id. at D-8. Within the deadline, SSV disclosed that it consumed “API J55” HRC. SSV Resp. to Sections C&D Questionnaire app. D-4-C (“C&D Resp.”), PD 87-91 (Oct. 30, 2013), ECF No. 60. SSV also disclosed that [[ ]] of the HRC came from ME suppliers and [[ ]] came from NME suppliers. C&D Resp. app. D-6, CD 21-28 (Oct. 30, 2013), ECF No. 60. In December of 2013, Commerce asked SSV to “[p]rovide a sample invoice for the purchase of each input.” Commerce’s Suppl. Section D Questionnaire 14, PD 96 (Dec. 12, 2013), ECF No.
In its supplemental questionnaire dated January 28, 2014, Commerce asked SSV if “any of [SSV’s] U.S. sales involved pipes which, when shipped to the United States, were upgradeable merchandise (e.g., upgradeable J55 that actually meets all the requirements of the API 5CT specification”). Suppl. D Resp. 10. Within the established deadline, SSV responded that, in addition to “normal J-55 steel coil,” which has a carbon content of 0.13 percent, it used “upgradeable J-55 coil,” which has a carbon content of 0.25 percent. Id.; see also PL’s Resp. to Def.-Intervenor’s Mot. for J. on Agency R. 10 n.13, ECF No. 66.
B. Substantial Evidence Supported Commerce’s Decision to Not Apply Partial Adverse. Facts Available to SSV.
U.S. Steel argues that Commerce acted without the support of substantial evidence in failing to apply partial AFA to SSV. U.S. Steel Br. 13. U.S.’ Steel asserts that when disclosing its factors of production, SSV “failed to provide accurate information regarding its upgradable [J55 HRC] within the deadlines established by Commerce and withheld information regarding” its use of high-chromium J55 HRC. Id. at 12. Simply put, U.S. Steel maintains that SSV should have disclosed in its first response to Commerce all of the above variations of J55 HRC. Id. at 6-7. This alleged misconduct, U.S. Steel argues, required application of partial AFA. Id. at 13.
In making its antidumping determinations, Commerce may sometimes “use the facts otherwise available in reaching the applicable determination.” 19 U.S.C. § 1677e(a). Commerce can use “facts otherwise available” when a respondent “withholds [requested] information,” “fails to provide such information by the [applicable] deadlines,” fails to provide the information “in the form and manner requested,” “significantly impedes a proceeding,” or provides “information [that] cannot be verified.” Id. § 1677e(a)(2). But Commerce can sometimes do more. It “may use an inference that is adverse to the interests of [a] party in selecting from among the facts otherwise available.” Id. § 1677e(b)(l) (emphasis added). However, Commerce may use this .adverse inference only if it “finds that [the] interested party has failed to cooperate by not acting to the best of its ability to comply with a request for information.” Id. An interested party fails to act to “the best of its ability” when it does not “put forth its maximum effort to provide Commerce with full and complete answers to all inquiries in an investigation.” Nippon Steel Corp. v. United States,
Here, the record demonstrates that substantial evidence supported Commerce’s conclusion that the application of partial AFA was unwarranted. Commerce found that, with regard to the J55 HRC, SSV withheld no requested information, provided all information within the estab
Without additional guidance from Commerce in its Section D questionnaire, it was reasonable for SSV to answer the Section D questionnaire by disclosing its HRC input using the API specifications, which treat the above J55 HRC variations as one “type and grade.” As a result, SSV provided an honest and reasonably accurate answer when it disclosed solely J55 HRC in its first Section D response without also disclosing upgradeable J55 HRC and high-chromium J55 HRC. Commerce, therefore, reasonably concluded that SSV properly provided the requested information within the deadlines (and, by extension, did not withhold the information). See 19 U.S.C. § 1677e(a)(2). And because SSV complied with the demands of the investigation, it did not impede the investigation. Id. For that reason, Commerce refused to apply- partial AFA, and substantial evidence supports the refusal.
C. Commerce Did Not Act Arbitrarily in Refusing to Apply Partial Adverse Facts Available to SSV.
U.S. Steel also argues that Commerce’s refusal to apply partial AFA to SSV contravened the law because Commerce inexplicably and unjustifiably disregarded its alleged practice of applying AFA to respondents behaving comparable to SSV. U.S. Steel Br. 18.
“[I]t is well-established that ‘an agency action is arbitrary when the agency offer[s] insufficient reasons for treating similar situations differently.’” SKF USA Inc. v. United States,
U.S. Steel cites a list of cases in its attempt to demonstrate an established practice in which Commerce previously applied AFA whenever a respondent behaved like SSV here. Yet these cases are inapplicable because, unlike here, the respondents in the cited cases did not comply with Commerce’s requests^ See I&D Mem. 32-34. For example, in both Yantai Xinke Steel Structure Co. v. United States, Slip Op. 12-95,
D. The Court Remands for Further Explanation or Reconsideration of Commerce’s Valuation of J55 Hot-Rolled Coil.
U.S. Steel argues that Commerce erred when it did not separately calculate the values of the three types of J55 HRC that SSV consumed. U.S. Steel Br. 21. The
“In determining the valuation of the factors of production, the critical question is whether the methodology used by Commerce is based on the best available information and establishes antidump-ing margins as accurately as possible.” Shakeproof Assembly Components, Div. of Illinois Tool Works, Inc. v. United States,
Here, Commerce obtained information showing that SSV purchased three variations of J55 HRC. First, record evidence confirms that SSV purchased regular J55 HRC with a carbon content of 0.13 percent from ME sources. Suppl. D Resp. 10, PD 142-143 (Feb. 5, 2014), ECF No. 60. Second, record evidence shows that SSV purchased upgradeable J55 with a carbon content of 0.25 percent from ME sources. Id. Third, record evidence confirms that SSV purchased J55 HRC containing a heightened chromium content of [[ ]] percent from [[ ]]. Verification Report 23, CD 154 (May 7, 2014), ECF No. 73-3. Regular J55 HRC from ME sources contains only [[]]. SSV Verification Exs. at Ex. 14, CD 71-150 (Apr. 14, 2014), ECF No. 92. When calculating the value óf OCTG inputs, Commerce used SSV’s “average [ME] purchase price of [J55 HRC] during the” period of investigation rather than calculating a separate value for each of the above variations of J55. I&D Mem. 34. U.S. Steel insists that Commerce erred in failing to separately value the three variations.
In particular, U.S. Steel argues that Commerce violated the statutory requirement that Commerce determine dumping margins using “the best available information.” 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(c)(l). U.S. Steel argues that Commerce’s established practice “is to base surrogate values on prices for materials that most closely reflect the specific grades and chemical compositions of the inputs consumed in the production of the subject merchandise.” U.S. Steel Br. 22, 26.
Commerce provides little explanation for its refusal to value separately each variation of J55 HRC. It first concludes that “[t]he differences between the three types of J55 are not so substantial as to make them different products requiring separate valuations.” I&D Mem. 34. On that basis, Commerce states, it “valued SSV’s coil using its average [ME] purchase price of [HRC] during the [period of investigation], as [it] did in the Preliminary Determination." Id. In the Preliminary Determination, Commerce followed a then-established practice that the agency previously announced in the Federal Register. Prelim. Decision Mem. 12 & n.44, PD 245 (Feb. 14, 2014), ECF No. 73-2. Under that practice, Commerce granted
a rebuttable presumption that [ME] input prices are the best available information for valuing an entire input when the total volume of the input purchased from all [ME] sources during the period of investigation or review exceeds 33 percent of the total volume of the input purchased from all sources.
Antidumping Methodologies: Market Economy Inputs, Expected Non-Market Economy Wages, Duty Drawback; and Requests for Comments, 71 Fed. Reg. 61,716, 61,717-18 (Dep’t Commerce Oct. 19, 2006)). Thus, “[w]hen a[] NME producer purehase[d] inputs from [ME] suppliers and pa[id] in a [ME] .currency, [Commerce] normally use[d] the average actual price paid by the NME producer for these inputs to value the [entire] input in question.” Id. at 61,716.
If this practice applies to Commerce’s valuation of HRC, Commerce properly valued the HRC input because, as the practice dictates, it used the average price of ME purchases of J55 HRC. But Commerce must satisfy two conditions before applying this practice. First, the practice applies, by its own terms, only if the ME J55 HRC that SSV purchased with ME currency amounted to 33 percent or more of the total quantity of J55 HRC that SSV purchased during the period of investigation. Id. at 61,717-18. Second, and again by its own terms, the practice applies only if the three variations of J55 HRC constitute the same input. Id. Here, Commerce satisfies the first condition because SSV purchased [[ ]] of its J55 HRC in ME currency from ME suppliers. C&D Resp. app. D-6, CD 25 (Oct. 30, 2013), ECF No. 73-3. As a result, if the three variations of J55 HRC constitute the same input, Commerce satisfied both conditions for applying its estab
But Commerce insufficiently explained its decision to classify the three variations of J55 HRC' as the same' input. Rather than clarify its decision to conflate three reputedly differing J55 HRCs, Commerce merely stated that “[t]he differences between the three types of J55 are not so substantial " so as to make them different products requiring separate valuations.” I&D Mem. 34, This statement provides no explanation; it simply offers a conclusion.
And so it is unclear whether Commerce justifiably'used the above established practice to value all of the J55 HRC based solely on the ME purchases of J55 HRC. Although Commerce may be correct, it has not satisfied its obligation to say why it is correct. This court, therefore, cannot “properly review [Commerce’s] conclusions based on its explanations and its citations to the data.” Diamond Sawblades Mfrs. Coal. v. United States,
II. The Court Remands for Further Explanation of Commerce’s Refusal to Value and Deduct SSV’s Alleged Domestic Inland Insurance from the Export Price.
U.S. Steel contends that, contrary to Commerce’s finding, SSV “paid for and received insurance associated with transporting the subject merchandise by inland freight from its plant to the port in Vietnam.” U.S, Steel Br. 28. As a result, U.S. Steel maintains that Commerce “should have valued the cost of such insurance and deducted it as a movement expense from” the export price, “[consistent with its decisions in prior cases.” Id. The court concludes that Commerce failed to adequately explain its conclusion that SSV’s contract with the freight forwarder included no insurance provision".
A. Background
Under 19 U.S.C. § 1677a(c)(2)(A), Commerce must reduce the export price by “the amount, if any, ... attributable to any additional costs, charges, or expenses ... which are incident to bringing the subject merchandise from the original place of shipment in the exporting country to the place of delivery" in the United States.” U.S. Steel believes that SSV purchased insurance from [[]] and that Comrherce should have valued and deducted the cost of this insurance from the export price pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1677a(c)(2)(A), consistent with the agency’s past practice. U.S. Steel Br. 28.
The contract between SSV and [[ ]] required [[ ]] to transport OCTG from SSV’s plant to the port in Vietnam. SSV Suppl. Section A and C Resp. (“Suppl. A&C Resp.”) app. SC-5, CD 31-35 (Jan. 9, 2014), ECF No. 60. The contract states that [[ ]] Id. The contract also includes the following provision;
[[]]
Id. Additionally, the contract states that the price includes [[]] Id. The contract apparently does not limit [[]] liability to accidents or damage for which [[ ]] is responsible. U.S. Steel Br. 30. According to U.S. Steel, this establishes that [[ ]] charged SSV for both shipment and insurance of the OCTG. Id. at 28-29. SSV, however, denied paying for insurance. SSV Resp. to Section C Questionnaire 28 (“C Resp.”), CD 22 (Oct. 30, 2013), ECF No. 73-3.
B. Discussion
To prove that Commerce erred, U.S, Steel first focuses on the language of the contract between SSV and [[]]. U.S. Steel Br. 28-29. According to U.S. Steel, the language unequivocally establishes an insurance contract between the two entities, as well as agreements for a number of other services. Id. Next, U.S. Steel explains that Commerce has an established practice of separately valuing domestic inland insurance when the insurance is purchased “in conjunction with the provision of another service.” Id. at 29. Thus, if the agreement between SSV and [[ ]] to transport the OCTG also created an insurance contract, Commerce must either follow its alleged practice of valuing the insurance or explain the reasons for its departure. Id. at 33. U.S. Steel concludes that Commerce’s explanation has no record support. Id. at 28-33.
Commerce provides scant insight into its decision. It believes that the contract language merely transfers the “risk of loss” from SSV to [[]]. I&D Mem. 41. As evidence, Commerce states, that, “it is not uncommon for trucking companies to bear the risk of loss on the shipments they handle.” Id. Commerce then states that it “do[es] not find that the bearing of such risk constitutes an ‘insurance contract’ that would require a separate surrogate value.” Id. Yet Commerce provides no explanation for why it' believes that trucking companies commonly carry the risk of loss. Nor does it give any reasons for its refusal to classify the language of the freight agreement as an insurance contract requiring a separate surrogate value. This is not enough.
This court “may not supply a reasoned basis for the agency’s action that the agency itself has not given.” Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass’n,
III. The Court Remands for Commerce to Reconsider its Selection of Financial Statements.
In the Final Determination, Commerce used the financial statements of a single company, Welspun Corporation Limited (“Welspun”), to calculate financial ratios. I&D Mem. 19-20, In their motions for judgment on the agency record, U.S. Steel and SSV both argued that Commerce should use . additional companies. SSV Br. 33-46; U.S. Steel Br. 33-37. After all briefing and oral argument before this court, SSV filed a motion for leave to submit supplemental information. SSV Mot. for Leave, ECF No. 104. The supplemental information conflicts with Commerce’s explanation for choosing Welspun over other proposed companies. In response, the Government requested a voluntary remand, Def.’s Resp. to SSV Mot. for Leave, ECF No. 105; and this court granted SSV leave to submit supplemental information, ECF No. 106.
“When Commerce is constructing the normal value for a respondent in a [ÑME] country, Commerce must also take into account those costs that are not covered by the factors of production (the physical inputs and the wages of the workers directly involved in the manufacturing process.)” Mittal Steel Galati S.A. v. United States,
In its Preliminary Determination, Commerce used the financial statements of three companies to calculate the financial ratios: APL Apollo Tubes Ltd., Bhushan Steel Ltd., and Welspun. Surrogate Values Mem. for Prelim. Determ. 7, PD 151 (Feb. 13, 2014), ÉCF No. 73-1. In the Final Determination, Commerce used only the financial statements of Welspun. I&D Mem. 19-20.
In their respective motions for judgement on the agency record, both U.S. Steel and SSV argued that Commerce erred in using exclusively the financial statements of Welspun. U.S. Steel insisted that Commerce should have used the financial statements of four additional companies. U.S. Steel Br. 33-37. Commerce explained that it rejected two of the suggested companies because the companies received counter-vailable subsidies. I&D Mem. 18-19. It rejected the other two because they were integrated at levels different from SSV. Id. In like manner, SSV argued that Commerce erred in rejecting • the financial statements of six proposed nonintegrated Indian companies. SSV Br. 33-46. Commerce rejected these companies, and chose to rely on only Welspun, because Welspun produced identical merchandise (OCTG) and the rejected companies produced merely comparable merchandise. I&D Mem. 17-18.
After the parties submitted briefs and participated in oral argument, SSV submitted a motion to file supplemental information showing that Commerce’s explanation may be false. SSV Mot. for Leave, ECF No. 104. The supplemental information is the remand redetermination of the investigation of OCTG from the Republic of Korea. Id. at 2-3 (citing Remand Redetermi-nation at 19, 56, Husteel Co. v. United States, Slip Op. 16-76,
B. Discussion
Without admitting any error, the Government “may request a remand ... in order to reconsider its previous opinion.” SKF USA Inc. v. United States,
The court finds no evidence of bad faith or frivolousness in the Government’s request for a remand. To the contrary, there áre substantial and legitimate grounds for a remand. Commerce predicated its selection of the financial statements of Welspun on the express finding that Welspun, unlike other proposed companies, produces OCTG. I&D Mem. 19. But Commerce appears to be confused, because it has also found that, in fact, Welspun produces no OCTG. Remand Re-determination at 56, Husteel,
IV. The Court Remands for a Reconsideration of SSV’s Yield Loss.
SSV challenges Commerce’s calculation of yield loss, U.S. Steel argues that Commerce properly calculated yield loss, and the Government requests a remand to reconsider yield loss. The court grants the Government’s request for a remand.
A. Background
In its Final Determination, Commerce adjusted the normal value of OCTG to account for yield loss. I&D Mem. 38. Documents obtained during verification formed the basis for the yield loss calculation. Sales Verification Report 11-12, CD 169 (May 30, 2014), ECF No. 58. These documents showed that before the period of investigation, SSV’s U.S. affiliate rejected as defective [[ ]] percent of SSV’s shipment of upgradeable OCTG (OCTG made with J55 coil containing elevated carbon levels). Final Analysis Mem. 1-2, CD 182 (July 10, 2014), ECF No. 73-3. From this information, Commerce increased SSV’s usage rate of inputs by [[ ]] percent. Id.
B. Discussion
SSV challenges the yield loss calculation on four grounds. First, SSV argues that a [[ ]] percent yield loss was inaccurate because Commerce calculated this loss using exclusively transactions of upgradeable OCTG exported before the period of investigation rather than all transactions of OCTG. SSV Br. 47-48. Second, SSV contends that the defects in the OCTG “must have occurred during transit, and not during manufacture.” Id. at 49. Accordingly, SSV insists that any yield loss was inappropriate because transportation insurance proceeds would have covered SSV’s losses on the rejected OCTG if such losses existed. Id. Third, SSV asserts that the [[]] percent yield loss was improper because Commerce did not offset this loss with the value of the réjected OCTG sold as scrap. Id. at 50. Fourth, SSV. argues that adjusting “normal value for losses experienced during transit from Vietnam to the United States was also contrary to the statute.” Id. at 50-51 (emphasis omitted).
For its part, the Government requests a voluntary remand to reconsider its calculation of yield loss. Def.’s Resp. to Pl.’s and Def.-Intervenor’s Mots, for J. on Agency
Here, the Government fails to explain the reason for its remand request. But there is no evidence that the request “is frivolous or in bad faith.” Id. And there are “substantial arid legitimate” grounds for granting the remand. Id. Commerce’s explanation does not provide a satisfactory rebuttal to SSV’s arguments. For example, in response to SSV’s argument that yield loss should be offset with scrap sales, Commerce stated—with no citation to authority—that “yield loss can occur regardless of whether any of it is sold as scrap.” I&D Mem. 38. Likewise, Commerce asserted -without' citation that midtransit yield loss still counts' because “[y]ield loss can occur when the semi-finished product is shipped to or further processed by a further processor.” Id. Commerce’s sparse and unsubstantiated explanation would not likely weather this court’s review under the substantial-evidence standard. Therefore, the court grants the Government’s request for a voluntary remand to reconsider its yield loss calculation. See generally SeAH Steel Corp. v. United States,
V. The Court Remands for Commerce to Reconsider the Inclusion of “Document Preparation” Costs in the Calculation of SSV’s Brokerage and Handling Costs for Exports of OCTG.
SSV argues that Commerce acted in violation of the law and without the support of substantial evidence when it included “document preparation” costs in the calculation of SSV’s brokerage and handling (“B&H”) costs on exports of OCTG. SSV contends that it never used document preparation services and, therefore, Commerce had no reason to value and include these services within B&H. SSV Br, 11-16.
A, Background
In shipping goods from Vietnam to the United States, SSV incurred B&H. expenses. C Resp. 28, CD 22 (Oct. 30, 2013), ECF No. 73-3. To.determine a surrogate value for the B&H services, Commerce used the World Bank’s report “Doing Business India: 2014” (“Doing Business report”). I&D Mem. 6-7. This report provides a total cost for B&H services, and also breaks down this total cost into four subcategories: “[cjustoms clearance and technical control” costs, “[p]orts and terminal handling” costs,' “[ijnland transportation and handling” costs, and “[documents preparation” costs. Surrogate Value Sources Ex. IV, PD 164 (Fed. 21, 2014), ECF No. 73-2. The report lists the following nine documents under the category of “document preparation”: (1) bill of lading, (2) certificate of origin, (3) commercial invoice, (4) foreign exchange control form, (5) inspection report, (6) packing list, (7) shipping bill (customs export declaration), (8) technical standard certificate,' and (9) terminal handling receipts. Id. However, the report does not provide individual costs for these documents. Id.
Commerce included three of the Doing Business report’s subcategorized costs in the calculation of SSV’s B&H costs: “document preparation,” “customs clearance and technical control,” and “ports and terminal handling.” See Surrogate Values Mem. Ex. 9, PD 162 (Feb. 20, 2014), ECF No. 73-2. SSV conténds that it did not incur any “document preparation” costs. SSV Br. 11. On that basis, SSV concludes that Commerce should adjust the B&H surrogate value by excluding the “document preparation” costs. Id. at 16.
In the Final Determination, Commerce stated the established practice governing its decision to adjust B&H surrogate values:
[Commerce] will sometimes make an adjustment to surrogate value data to reflect an individual exporter’s experience, including to B&H surrogate value data, but normally only when the item’s amount is clearly identified in the' ‘Doing Business’ report and the factors of production for self-preparation are accounted for.
I&D Mem. 7 (footnote omitted). No party disputes the relevance or validity of this practice. Consequently, to qualify for an adjustment to its B&H values, SSV must satisfy two conditions. First, the Doing Business report must clearly identify the cost for. the documents that SSV claims that it prepared without a broker. Commerce concluded that the Doing Business report did not provide the requisite- costs. Id. Second, Commerce must have otherwise accounted for the factors of production for any self-preparation of documents. Commerce never addressed the second condition. The court finds that substantial evidence does not currently support Commerce’s finding that SSV failed to satisfy the first condition, and it is unclear whether, SSV satisfies the second condition. Thus, the court remands.
. B. Discussion
To prove satisfaction of the first condition above, SSV enumerates all nine documents within the category of “document preparation” and shows the source of
In the Final Determination, Commerce disagreed. It concluded that “the cost for each item” that “SSV has identified” was “not indicated in the ‘Doing Business’ report.” I&D Mem. 7. But Commerce referenced no record evidence, and consequently never accounted for the evidence that SSV provided. Id. On its face, SSV’s evidence appears to indicate that the broker prepared none of the nine documents, in which case the Doing Business report indicated “the cost for each item” that “SSV has identified.” The report indicated a cost for the items because the report listed the total aggregated cost for document preparation services, and this total aggregated cost incorporated exclusively the documents that SSV either did not prepare or prepared without a broker. Surrogate Value Sources Ex. IV. In other words, SSV’s evidence suggests that SSV satisfied the first condition—yet Commerce ignored this evidence, and cited no alternative evidence, in reaching the opposite conclusion. “Commerce’s total failure to consider or discuss record evidence which, on its face, provides significant support for an alternative conclusion renders [Commerce’s] determination unsupported by substantial evidence.” Allegheny Ludlum Corp. v. United States,
But even if U.S. Steel offers a plausible explanation for Commerce’s finding, Commerce did not. The court cannot rely on U.S. Steel’s “post hoc rationalizations” for Commerce’s decision. Burlington Truck Lines, Inc. v. United States,
VI. The Court Remands for Commerce to Reconsider its Decision to Add B&H Costs to SSV’s ME Purchase Price for HRC Imports.
SSV argues that Commerce improperly added the costs of B&H services on imports of the HRC input. SSV offers three reasons that adding B&H costs to these
A. Background
19 U.S.C. § 1677b(c)(l) mandates that, when calculating the normal value, Commerce must determine the value • of the factors of production used to produce subject merchandise. To do so, Commerce determined the cost for imports of HRC, an input in SSVs OCTG. To fully account for the cost of acquiring HRC, Commerce added to the purchase price of HRC the B&H costs that SSV incurred for importing the HRC. Commerce again relied on the Doing Business report to calculate the value of the B&H services. I&D Mem. 40. As with B&H costs pertaining to exports, the Doing Business report provides a total B&H cost as well as subcategorized costs for “[documents preparation,” “[c]ustoms clearance and technical control, “[p]orts and terminal handling,” and “[i]nland transportation and handling.” Surrogate Value Sources Ex. IV, PD 164 (Fed. 21, 2014), ECF No. 73-2. Commerce used the costs of three of the four subcategories to calculate SSVs B&H cost on imports of HRC: (1) “documents preparation,” (2) “customs clearance and technical control,” and (3) “ports and terminal handling.” Final Analysis Mem. Attach. 2, PD 217 (July 16, 2014), ECF No. 58.
B. The Court Sustains Commerce’s Finding that SSV Incurred B&H Costs.
First, SSV argues that “there is no evidence on the record that SSV used the services of a customs broker in connection with imports of [HRC].” SSV Br. 16 (emphasis omitted). From this, SSV concludes that Commerce erred in adding B&H costs to imports of HRC. SSV Br. 17. The court finds that SSV failed to exhaust its administrative remedies on this issue.
Before the Preliminary Determination, U.S. Steel argued that Commerce should add B&H fees to SSV’s imports of HRC. U.S. Steel Pre-prelim. Cmts. 12-14, CD 53 (Feb. 3, 2014), ECF No. 73-3. SSV failed to argue that it incurred no B&H expenses. Instead, it argued that the financial ratios for overhead capture B&H expenses. SSV Pre-prelim Cmts. 9, PD 144 (Feb. 7, 2014), ECF No. 73-1. The Preliminary Determination included no B&H costs for imports of HRC. Prelim. Decision Mem., PD 245 (Oct. 23, 2014), ECF No. 73-2. Later, U.S. Steel again insisted that Commerce add B&H costs for HRC imports because it is “clear that [SSV] incurred brokerage and handling and port fees associated with its [ME] purchases of [HRC].” U.S. Steel Case Br. 34, PD 203 (June 9, 2014), ECF No. 73-2. U.S. Steel explained that SSV “does not dispute as a factual matter that it incurs brokerage and handling and port fees on its imports of [HRC].” Id. at 35. In response, SSV again failed to argue that it incurred no B&H costs from a customs broker. Rather, SSV argued (1) that U.S. Steel provided no “evidence to support their claim that the import charges were not already included in the overhead figures calculated by [Commerce]” and (2) that “the import brokerage-and-handling charges proposed by [U.S. Steel] [were] plainly excessive.” SSV Rebuttal Br. 35, PD 207 (June 13, 2014), ECF No. 73-2. In its Final Determination, Commerce stated
This court “shall, where appropriate, require the exhaustion of administrative remedies.” 28 U.S.C. § 2687(d). The court has “generally taken a strict view of the need for parties to exhaust their remedies by raising all arguments in a timely fashion so that they may be appropriately addressed by the agency.” Nakornthai Strip Mill Public Co. v. United States,
SSV cites Qingdao Taifa Group Co. v. United States,
[a] party ... may seek judicial review of an issue, that it did not raise in a case brief if Commerce did not address the issue until its final decision, because in such a circumstance the party would not have had a full and fair opportunity to raise the issue at the administrative level.
SSV Reply Br. 9 n.15. But'the rationale driving Qingdao is inapplicable in this case. Although Commerce did not decide that SSV incurred B&H costs until the Final Determination, U.S. Steel lobbied for such a conclusion both before and after the Preliminary Determination. ■ U.S. Steel Case Br. 34-35. Though SSV had no obligation to respond to these arguments, it chose to respond. In response, SSV could have argued, as it did here, that there is no evidence that it used B&H services on its imports of HRC. It did not. Instead, SSV responded that Commferce need not add B&H expenses because the financial ratio for overhead captures ■ this expense—an argument that presupposes the existence of B&H expenses. SSV Rebuttal Br. 35. In addition, SSV argued that the B&H costs that U.S. Steel requested were “plainly excessive”—another argument that seems to presuppose the existence of B&H expenses. Id. In other words, SSV failed to advance an argument about the existence of B&H costs—and implicitly admitted the existence of these costs—at a time when SSV was intentionally discussing the appropriate handling of B&H costs.
In addition, requiring exhaustion here furthers the values behind the doctrine by (1) avoiding judicial inefficiency and (2) allowing Commerce to more thoroughly develop a relevant factual record and apply its expertise. Ta Chen,
C. The Court Remands for Commerce to Explain How its Conclusion that Financial Statements do not Account for B&H Costs Changes Following the Potential Reselection of Financial Statements.
SSV contends that, “even if a Vietnamese customs broker had assisted SSV in connection with customs clearance on imports of [HRC], there is no reason to believe that SSV” obtained services for “document preparation” and “ports and terminal handling.” SSV Br; 18. Thus, SSV maintains that Commerce improperly included the Doing Business report costs for these two services. Id. at 18-19.
SSV first asserts that “[t]here was no evidence that SSV employed a customs broker to prepare any of the ... documents that were included in the Doing Business [r]eport’s” “document preparation” category. Id. at 19. On the import side, the “document preparation” category includes eleven documents. Surrogate Value Sources Ex. IV, PD 164 (Fed. 21, 2014), ECF No. 73-2. In footnotes in its Rebuttal Brief before Commerce, SSV cited record evidence to show that SSV personnel and the suppliers of HRC prepared nine of the eleven documents. SSV Rebuttal Br. 38-40 n.60-66, PD 207 (June 13, 2014), ECF No. 58.
For its part, Commerce explained that it added “B&H and import fees to the [ME] purchase price of [HRC] because the record indicates that SSV incurred cost[s] for B&H and SSV does not dispute this cost.” I&D Mem. 40. Commerce then concluded that “SSV has presented no evidence that the B&H costs are included in the overhead reported on any of the financial statements on the record.” Id.
From this, it appears that Commerce used' the same established practice that it used in Issue V above. See Gov’t Resp. 40. As applied here, the practice dictates-that Commerce must adjust the (impori>side) B&H value if two conditions exist.
D. The Court Remands for Commerce to Consider if an Applicable Agency Practice Precludes Commerce from Adding Costs for B&H Services to SSV’s ME Purchase Price for HRC.
Third, SSV argues that “the inclusion of import brokerage costs in the calculation of the cost of imported [HRC] is [inconsistent] with Commerce’s practice.” SSV Br. 21. SSV cites two proceedings where Commerce declined to calculate and apply surrogate values for the B&H services used to import inputs. SSV Br. 21 n.24 (citing Fresh Garlic from the People’s Republic of China, 79 Fed. Reg. 36,721 (Dep’t Commerce June 30, 2014) (final admin. review) and accompanying I&D Mem. (“Fresh Garlic”) at cmt 7; Prestressed Concrete Steel Rail Tie Wire from the People’s Republic of China, 79 Fed. Reg. 25,572 (Dep’t Commerce May 5, 2014) (fi
But Commerce provided no response to this argument because SSV never raised it at the administrative level. As chronicled above, U.S. Steel argued both before and after the Preliminary Determination that Commerce. should add the cost of B&H services to the ME purchase price of imports of HRC. U.S. Steel Pre-prelim. Cmts. 12-14, CD 53 (Feb. 3, 2014), ECF No. 73-3; U.S. Steel Case Br. 34-35, PD 203 (June 9, 2014), ECF No. 73-2. Though not required to respond, SSV responded, and it argued (1) that the overhead financial ratios captured the cost of B&H services on imports of inputs and (2) that U.S. Steel inflated the value of these B&H services. SSV Rebuttal Br. 35, PD 207 (June 13, 2014), ECF No. 73-2. SSV failed to mention its current argument.
However, an exception to exhaustion doctrine prevents the court from barring SSV’s current argument. Commerce issued Prestressed Concrete on May 5, 2014. Shortly thereafter, on June 13, 2014, SSV submitted its rebuttal brief. Id. On June 30, 2014, Commerce issued Fresh Garlic. Therefore, at the time SSV submitted its rebuttal brief, SSV may have lacked the information necessary to argue that an applicable established practice exists. On that basis, the court excuses SSV from its failure to exhaust this argument. See Gerber Food,
On remand, Commerce must determine and explain whether a relevant established practice exists. An established practice exists “when a uniform and established procedure exists that would lead a
VII. The Court Remands for Further Explanation of Commerce’s Allocation of B&H Costs.
SSV argues that “Commerce’s allocation of the ‘Doing Business report’ costs was illogical, contrary to this court’s precedent, and unsupported by the evidence on the record.” SSV Br. 23. The court remands for further explanation.
A. Background
As discussed, Commerce used the Doing Business report to calculate surrogate values for B&H services on both exports of OCTG and imports of HRC. I&D Mem. 6-7, 40. The figures from the report assumed a sample shipment of goods weighing ten metric tons (“MT”). SSV Case Br. Attach. 2-3, PD 197 (June 6, 2014), ECF No. 58. For its Final Determination, Commerce calculated B&H surrogate values in dollars per metric ton “by dividing the total costs shown in the Doing Business report (for documents preparation, customs clearance and technical control, and ports and terminal handling) by 10—[because] the hypothetical container that was the focus of the Doing Business [r]eport’s estimates contained 10 tons of the hypothetical goods.” SSV Br. 23. In other words, Commerce first divided by ten the total B&H costs (for documents preparation, customs clearance and technical control, and ports and terminal handling) given in the Doing Business report on imports and exports. Doing this gave Commerce the B&H costs per metric ton of goods imported and exported. Commerce then multiplied the per metric ton B&H costs on imports by the total metric tons of HRC that SSV imported. Final Analysis Mem. Attach. 2, PD 217 (July 16, 2014), ECF No. 58. Commerce used the same approach to calculate the surrogate value for B&H costs on exports of OCTG. Surrogate Válues Mem. Ex. 9, PD 152 (Feb. 20, 2014), ECF No. 73-2. In doing so, Commerce “assumed that the [B&H costs] would increase proportionately with the weight of the products contained in each shipment.” SSV Br. 23. This assumption, SSV argues, was “flawed and contrary to law.” Id. at 24.
B. Discussion
SSV argues that Commerce erred in assuming “that the [B&H costs] would increase proportionately with the weight of the products contained in each shipment.” Id. at 23. For example, “if the costs for exporting a 10-ton shipment would be $77, Comm'erce assumed, that the costs for exporting a 100-ton shipment would be $770, the costs for exporting a 1,000 ton shipment would be $7,700, and so on.” Id. Commerce failed to provide a detailed explanation supported by. substantial evidence for its conclusion that the B&H costs would increase proportionately with the weight of the exported and imported goods.
In its Final Determination,- Commerce detailed its decision to "use the weight of 10. MT for a standard container.” I&D Mem. 8 (citation omitted). It explained that calculating unit value using a 10 MT weight per container is necessary to avoid a “distorted result,” because “mixing different sources of data in the B&H calculation would add inconsistency to the ratio calculation.” Id. (citation omitted). “Using 10 MT in the per-unit calculation maintains the relationship between cost and quantity from the survey (which is important be
Although helpful to resolving challenges to the standard container weight it uses when calculating, unit value, this explanation appears to shed no light on why Commerce assumed that B&H costs for SSV increased proportionately with the weight of the product.
After Carefully reviewing the briefs and administrative record, the court remands all issues except the challenge to Commerce’s refusal to apply partial adverse facts available to SSV.
Accordingly, it is hereby:
ORDERED that the final determination of the United States Department of Commerce, published as Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 79 Fed. Reg. 41,973 (Dep’t Commerce July 18, 2014) (final determ.) and accompanying Issues & Decision Mem., as amended by Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from India, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, the Republic of Turkey, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 79 Fed. Reg. 58,691 (Dep’t Commerce Sept. 10, 2014) (amended final determ.) is hereby REMANDED to Commerce for redetermi-nation; it is further
ORDERED that both Plaintiffs and Defendant-Intervenor’s Motions for Judgment on the Agency Record Under USCIT Rule 56.2 are GRANTED in part as provided in this Opinion and Order; it is further
ORDERED that Commerce shall issue a redetermination (“Remand Redetermination”) in accordance with this Opinion and Order that is in all respects supported by substantial evidence and in accordance with law; it is further
ORDERED that Commerce provide a detailed explanation of, or reconsider, its decision to treat all J55 HRC as a single input and value all J55 HRC based on the purchase of a single variation of J55 HRC; it is further
ORDERED that Commerce either (1) explain why it concluded that trucking companies commonly bear the risk of loss and why SSV had no insurance contract or (2) reclassify the contract as an insurance contract; it is further
ORDERED that Commerce reconsider its selection of financial statements; it is further
ORDERED that Commerce reconsider its yield loss calculation and provide a thorough response to SSV’s challenges to the calculation of yield loss; it is further
ORDERED that Commerce analyze the conflicting evidence concerning use of B&H costs on exports of OCTG and explain its decision to adjust or not adjust the B&H costs; it is further
ORDERED that Commerce (1) explain how its decision on financial statements affects, or does not affect, the decision to add B&H costs to imports of HRC, and (2) consider whether an agency practice bars Commerce from adding B&H costs to SSV’s imports of HRC; it is further
ORDERED that Commerce thoroughly explain its finding that B&H costs increase
ORDERED that Commerce shall have ninety (90) days from the date of this Opinion and Order in which to file its Remand Redetermination, which shall comply with all directives in this Opinion and Order; that the Plaintiff and Defendant-Intervenors shall have thirty .(30) days from the filing of the Remand Rede-termination in which to file comments thereon; and that the Defendant shall have thirty (30) days from the filing of Plaintiffs and Defendant-Intervenors’ comments to file comments.
Notes
. As explained above, Commerce cannot apply partial AFA without (1) finding a problem with a respondent’s response and (2) finding . that the respondent failed to cooperate to the best of its ability. 19 U.S.C. § 1677e. And "[t]his court has made clear that [Commerce’s discretion to apply AFA] does not saddle Commerce with the burden of showing that an importer cooperated to the best of its ability every time it determines that adverse facts available should not be applied.”Tianjin, 36 CIT at —,
. Also, in all but one of the cases that U.S. Steel cites, this court affirmed Commerce’s decision to apply AFA, rather than overturning a decision not to apply AFA. U.S. Steel Br. 20. In the only outlier, the importer submitted fabricated documents to Commerce, which self-evidently signals that the importer failed to comply with Commerce’s requests and failed to "cooperate to the best of its ability.” Tianjin, 36 CIT at —,
. U.S. Steel also argues that failure to apply AFA to SSV violates the purpose of the AFA provision. U.S. Steel Br. 18, 20. The purpose of the AFA provision "is 'to provide respondents with an incentive to cooperate’ with Commerce's investigation." Essar Steel Ltd. v. United States,
. See Diamond Sawblades Mfrs. Coal. v. United States,
. U.S. Steel cites the following proceedings: (1) Pure Magnesium from the People’s Republic of China, 76 Fed. Reg. 76,945 (Dep’t Commerce Dec. 9, 2011) (final results) and accompanying I&D Mem. at cmt. 7; (2) Certain Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof from the People’s Republic of China, 68 Fed. Reg. 10,685 (Dep’t Commerce Mar. 6, 2003) (final determ.) and accompanying I&D Mem. at cmt. 44; and (3) Certain Cut-To-Length Carbon Steel Plate from the People's Republic of China, 62 Fed. Reg. 61,964 (Dep’t Commerce Nov. 20, 1997) (final
. Unlike ordinary J55, the higher carbon content of upgradeable J55 allows for conversion from J55-grade OCTG to L80-grade OCTG. Suppl. D Resp. 10. L80-grade hot-rolled coil has a yield strength ranging from 552 Mega-Pascals ("MPa”) to 655 MPa, while J55-grade hot-rolled coil has a yield strength from. 379 MPa to 552 MPa. SSV Section A Resp. at app, A-8, PD 73-77 (Sept. 24, 2013), ECF No. 60. L80 has a minimum tensile strength of 655 MPa, while J55 has a minimum tensile strength of 517 MPa, Id. L80 has a Rockwell Hardness of 23 and a Brinell Hardness of 241; J55 has no specified hardness. Id. Likewise, U.S. Steel also asserts that, compared to regular J55, high-chromium J55 HRC renders the steel more immune to corrosion. U.S. Steel Br. 25. What is more, U.S. Steel argues that, with a [[ ]], the HRC that SSV purchased qualifies as alloy steel rather than carbon steel under Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes. Id. at 25, 27. U.S. Steel also argues that there are appreciable price differences between the regular J55, the upgradable J55, and the high-chromium J55. Id. at 24-25.
. Defendant-Intervenors filed no response to SSV's motion,
.The Government nonetheless opposes three of SSV’s four arguments challenging the yield loss calculation. The Government states that SSV included nothing in its case brief or rebuttal case brief to Commerce regarding SSV’s current arguments that (1) insurance covered all losses from the rejected OCTG and that (2) Commerce erred in failing to offset the yield loss by the scrap value of the rejected OCTG. Gov’t Br, 47. Consequently, the Government argues that “SSV therefore failed to exhaust its administrative remedies.” Id. Further, the Government explains that "SSV is incorrect in claiming that Commerce may not make any yield loss adjustment to normal value for merchandise” damaged after the packing stage. Id. at 46.
. A remand is appropriate despite U.S. Steel’s opposition.
. , SSV also complains about Commerce’s decision to use the World Bank’s Doing Business India: 2014 report to calculate surrogate values for B&H services. SSV Br. 12. According to SSV, the report "was not intended as a measure of the actual brokerage and handling services for ejqports of steel products like OCTG”; rather, "it was part of a comparative analysis prepared by the World Bank's staff to benchmark the costs of a wide range of busi
. U.S. Steel cites a list of cases in which this court "previously rejected respondents' claims that the calculation of their B&H expenses should be adjusted based on the fact that they self-prepare one or more of the documents listed in the World Bank's Doing Business reports.” Def.-Intervenor’s Resp. to Pl.’s Mot. for J. on Agency R. 15, ECF. No. 64 (alteration omitted) (citing DuPont Teijin Films China Ltd. v. United States, 38 CIT —, —,
. As explained above, to prove that Commerce’s practice requires adjusting the B&H surrogate value, two conditions must exist: (1) the Doing Business report must clearly identify the allegedly unincurred document-preparation costs and (2) Commerce must separately account for the factors of production for these documents. I&D Mem. 7 (footnote omitted). Commerce never discussed the second condition. The court, therefore, cannot consider it in weighing the substantiality of Commerce’s reasoning. Burlington,
. In fact, SSV may have explicitly recognized the use of B&H services from brokers on imports of HRC when it stated: "[T]he ‘Doing Business' report figures. proposed by [U.S. Steel] do not provide a reasonable basis for ascertaining the value of the brokerage- and-handling services [that SSV] obtained from its customs broker on [HRC] imports during the investigation period." SSV Rebuttal Br. 41 (emphasis added).
. Notwithstanding this conclusion, even if this court considered SSV’s challenge, substantial record evidence would likely support Commerce's conclusion that SSV incurred . B&H expenses from a broker on imports of HRC. SSV’s purchasing agent stated at verification that ‘‘[w]hen he receives all the documents he starts the customs clearance.” SSV Verification Report 25, PD 191 (May 7, 2014), ECF No. 58. Additionally, the agreement between SSV and its freight forwarder for imports of raw materials, [[ ]] confirms that SSV obtained B&H services. SSV Resp. to Suppl. Sec. C&D Questionnaire app. SSD-5, CD 54-56 (Feb. 5, 2014), ECF No. 72. The contract stated that [[ ]] Id. [[ ]] Id. The contract simply required [[ ]] Id. The contract also stated that the price includes the following fees and services: [[ ]] Id. This record evidence substantiates Commerce’s finding that SSV contracted to receive B&H services from a broker on imports of HRC. It also evidences receipt of the three categories of B&H costs that Commerce included in its calculation: "document preparation,” "ports and terminal handling,” and “customs clearance and technical control.”
. SSV regularly and inconveniently excludes relevant record citations (and citations to proceedings) from its brief before this court. This requires the court to peruse the footnotes of SSV’s briefing at the administrative level so that the court can locate the citations relevant
. The Doing Business report lists only a single cost for all documents. Surrogate Value Sources Ex. IV. It does not provide costs for any individual documents. Thus, the Doing Business report identifies no costs for the specific documents that SSV and the suppliers prepared.
. The court, however, is not certain that Commerce used this, established practice. Consequently, Commerce must explain its reasoning more fully on remand.
. U.S. Steel states that ‘‘[i]n NME cases where respondents have incurred B&H expenses on their imports of market economy inputs, Commerce has [previously] increased the market economy prices by such fees.” U.S. Steel Resp, 17. Additionally, U.S. Steel explains that this court previously held that "two prior determinations ... are not enough to constitute an agency practice that is binding on Commerce.” Id. at 21 (quoting Shandong Huarong Mach. Co., Ltd. v. United States,
. SSV argues that Commerce should alter its allocation, in light of the holding in CS Wind Vietnam Co. v. United States, 38 CIT —,
. As an alternative, SSV argues that Commerce erred in using 10 MT as the standard weight for a container instead of the maximum capacity of the container, which is 21.727 MT. SSV Br. 31-33. As detailed above, Commerce clearly articulated the reasons that it chose a 10 MT weight. Further, Commerce supported this reasoning with ample legal authority. I&D Mem. 8-9 nn.27-28 (citing Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People’s Republic of China, 78 Fed. Reg. 66,330 (Dep’t Commerce Nov. 5, 2013) (final admin, review) and accompanying I&D Mem. at cmt. 7; Hardwood and Decorative Plywood from the People’s Republic of China, 78 Fed. Reg. 58,-273 (Dep't Commerce Sept. 23, 2013). (final determ.) and accompanying I&D Mem. at cmt. 10; Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 78 Fed. Reg. 56,211 (Dep't Commerce Sept. 12, 2013) (final admin. review) and accompanying I&D Mem. at cmt. 5; Certain Steel Nails from the People’s Republic of China, 78 Fed. Reg. 16,651 (Dep’t Commerce Mar. 18, 2013) (final admin. review) and accompanying I&D Mem. at cmt. 3).
Nonetheless, SSV references two proceedings to argue that Commerce violated an established practice when it chose the 10 MT weight over the 21.727 MT weight. SSV Br. 31-33. In one of these, Commerce rejected the proposed 10 MT weight in favor of the respondent’s actual average load weight per
SSV's reference to merely two prior proceedings fails to establish a practice with which Commerce had to comply. And Commerce provided adequate evidence that its decision violated no established practice. That said, even if Welded Pressure Pipe demonstrated a binding practice, it is a practice inapplicable to the facts here. Welded Pressure Pipe rejected the 10 MT weight because no evidence existed that the Doing Business report relied on this weight. Id. In contrast, here evidence exists that the report relied on the 10 MT weight. SSV Case Br. Attach. 3, PD 197 (June 6, 2014), ECF No. 58. Welded Pressure Pipe is therefore irrelevant to resolving the issue here. Commerce need not address this argument on remand.