Opinion ID: 3007030
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Separate Rate Status

Text: The antidumping statute authorizes Commerce to impose duties on imported goods that are sold in the United States at less-than-fair value and that injure a domestic industry. See 19 U.S.C. § 1673. Once an antidumping duty order covering certain goods is in place, “Commerce periodically reviews and reassesses antidumping duties” during administrative reviews. Gallant Ocean (Thai.) Co. v. United States, 602 F.3d 1319, 1321 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (citing 19 U.S.C. § 1675(a)). In calculating antidumping margins, Commerce generally determines individual dumping margins for each known exporter or producer. 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(c)(1). If it is not practicable to calculate individual dumping margins for every exporter or producer, Commerce may examine a reasonable number of respondents (mandatory respondents), such as Hilltop. See id. § 1677f-1(c)(2). In antidumping duty proceedings involving merchandise AD HOC SHRIMP TRADE ACTION COMM. v. UNITED STATES 25 from a nonmarket economy country, 14 however, Commerce presumes all respondents are government- controlled and therefore subject to a single country-wide rate. See Sigma Corp. v. United States, 117 F.3d 1401, 1405 (Fed. Cir. 1997). Respondents may rebut this presumption and become eligible for a separate rate by establishing the absence of both de jure and de facto government control. Id. If a respondent fails to establish its independence, Commerce relies upon the presumption of government control and applies the country-wide rate to that respondent. Transcom, Inc. v. United States, 294 F.3d 1371, 1373 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (“Under the [nonmarket economy] presumption, a company that fails to demonstrate independence from the [nonmarket economy] entity is subject to the countrywide rate, while a company that demonstrates its independence is entitled to an individual rate as in a market economy.”).