Court Opinion

ID: 9391299
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-05-01 20:01:15.073571+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:40.700269
License: Public Domain

Slip Op. 23-67

       UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE

BIOPARQUES DE OCCIDENTE,
S.A. DE C.V., AGRICOLA LA
PRIMAVERA, S.A. DE C.V., AND
KALIROY FRESH LLC,

      Plaintiffs,

CONFEDERACION DE
ASOCIACIONES AGRICOLAS
DEL ESTADO DE SINALOA,
A.C., CONSEJO AGRICOLA DE
BAJA CALIFORNIA, A.C.,
ASOCIACION MEXICANA DE
HORTICULTURA PROTEGIDA,
A.C., ASOCIACION DE
PRODUCTORES DE
                                       Before: Jennifer Choe-Groves, Judge
HORTALIZAS DEL YAQUI Y
MAYO, AND SISTEMA
                                       Consol. Court No. 19-00204
PRODUCTO TOMATE,

      Consolidated Plaintiffs,

v.

UNITED STATES,

      Defendant,

and

THE FLORIDA TOMATO
EXCHANGE,

      Defendant-Intervenor.
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                   Page 2

                            OPINION AND ORDER

[Granting in part and denying in part Defendant’s motion to dismiss and granting
in part and denying in part Defendant-Intervenor’s motion to dismiss.]

                                                                Dated: May 1, 2023

Jeffrey M. Winton, Michael J. Chapman, Amrietha Nellan, Ruby Rodriguez, and
Vi N. Mai, Winton & Chapman PLLC, of Washington, D.C., for Plaintiffs
Bioparques de Occidente, S.A. de C.V., Agricola La Primavera, S.A. de C.V., and
Kaliroy Fresh LLC.

Bernd G. Janzen, Devin S. Sikes, Paul Bettencourt, and Yujin K. McNamara,
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, of Washington, D.C., for Consolidated
Plaintiffs Confederacion de Asociaciones Agricolas del Estado de Sinaloa, A.C.,
Consejo Agricola de Baja California, A.C., Asociacion Mexicana de Horticultura
Protegida, A.C., Asociacion de Productores de Hortalizas del Yaqui y Mayo, and
Sistema Producto Tomate.

Douglas G. Edelschick, Senior Trial Counsel, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil
Division, U.S. Department of Justice, of Washington, D.C., for Defendant United
States. With him on the brief were Brian M. Boynton, Principal Deputy Assistant
Attorney General, Patricia M. McCarthy, Director, and Franklin E. White, Jr.,
Assistant Director. Of counsel was Emma T. Hunter, Assistant Chief Counsel,
Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance, U.S.
Department of Commerce.

Robert C. Cassidy, Jr., Charles S. Levy, Chase J. Dunn, James R. Cannon, Jr.,
Mary Jane Alves, Jonathan M. Zielinski, and Nicole Brunda, Cassidy Levy Kent
(USA) LLP, of Washington, D.C., for Defendant-Intervenor The Florida Tomato
Exchange.

      Choe-Groves, Judge: Plaintiffs Bioparques de Occidente, S.A. de C.V.,

Agricola La Primavera, S.A. de C.V., and Kaliroy Fresh LLC (collectively,

“Plaintiffs”) filed three complaints challenging the final determination made in the

antidumping duty investigation of fresh tomatoes from Mexico conducted by the
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                    Page 3

U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”), Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico

(“Final Determination”), 84 Fed. Reg. 57,401 (Dep’t of Commerce Oct. 25, 2019)

(final determination of sales at less than fair value): (1) Bioparques de Occidente,

S.A. de C.V. v. United States, Court No. 19-00204; (2) Bioparques de Occidente,

S.A. de C.V. v. United States, Court No. 19-00210; and (3) Bioparques de

Occidente, S.A. de C.V. v. United States, Court No. 20-00035. The Court

consolidated these cases and the related case Confederacion de Asociaciones

Agricolas del Estado de Sinaloa, A.C. v. United States, Court No. 19-00203.

Order (Sept. 1, 2022) (“Consolidation Order”), ECF No. 63.

      Before the Court are Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss filed by Defendant

United States (“Defendant”) and Defendant-Intervenor’s Motion to Dismiss filed

by Defendant-Intervenor The Florida Tomato Exchange (“Defendant-Intervenor”),

both seeking dismissal under USCIT Rule 12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter

jurisdiction. Def.’s Mot. Dismiss (“Def.’s Br.”), ECF No. 65; Def.-Interv.’s Mot.

Dismiss (“Def.-Interv.’s Br.”), ECF No. 66. Plaintiffs filed Plaintiffs’ Response to

Motion to Dismiss in opposition. Pls.’ Resp. Mot. Dismiss (“Pls.’ Resp.”), ECF

No. 67. Defendant filed Defendant’s Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss and

Defendant-Intervenor filed Defendant-Intervenor’s Reply in Support of its Motion

to Dismiss. Def.’s Reply Supp. Mot. Dismiss (“Def.’s Reply”), ECF No. 68; Def.-

Interv.’s Reply Supp. Mot. Dismiss (“Def.-Interv.’s Reply”), ECF No. 69.
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                    Page 4

Plaintiffs filed Plaintiffs’ Sur-Reply to Defendant and Defendant-Intervenor’s

Replies in Support of Motion to Dismiss. Pls.’ Sur-Reply Replies Supp. Mot.

Dismiss (“Pls.’ Sur-Reply”), ECF No. 72. Plaintiffs also filed Plaintiffs’ Notice of

Supplemental Authority following the Court’s ruling in Goodluck India, Ltd. v.

United States, 46 CIT __, 2022 Ct. Intl. Trade LEXIS 133 (Dec. 1, 2022). Pls.’

Notice Supp. Auth., ECF No. 78. For the reasons that follow, Defendant’s Motion

to Dismiss and Defendant-Intervenor’s Motion to Dismiss are granted in part and

denied in part.

                                 BACKGROUND

      The Court presumes familiarity with the facts and procedural history set

forth in its prior Order and Opinion and recounts the facts relevant to the Court’s

review of the pending motions to dismiss. See Bioparques de Occidente, S.A. de

C.V. v. United States, 44 CIT __, __, 470 F. Supp. 3d 1366, 1368–70 (2020).

      I.     Antidumping Duty Investigation and Suspension Agreements

      In April 1996, Commerce initiated an antidumping duty investigation to

determine whether imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico were being, or were

likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value. Fresh Tomatoes from

Mexico, 61 Fed. Reg. 18,377 (Dep’t of Commerce Apr. 25, 1996) (initiation of

antidumping duty investigation). After an affirmative preliminary injury

determination from the International Trade Commission, Commerce made a
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                  Page 5

preliminary determination that imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico were being

sold in the United States at less than fair value. Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, 61

Fed. Reg. 56,608 (Dep’t of Commerce Nov. 1, 1996) (notice of preliminary

determination of sales at less than fair value and postponement of final

determination). Concurrent with Commerce’s preliminary determination,

Commerce published a notice in the Federal Register announcing an agreement

under 19 U.S.C. § 1673c(c) with certain producers and exporters who accounted

for substantially all of the imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico into the United

States to suspend the antidumping duty investigation on fresh tomatoes from

Mexico. Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, 61 Fed. Reg. 56,618 (Dep’t of Commerce

Nov. 1, 1996) (suspension of antidumping investigation). Between 1996 and 2013,

Commerce and the producers and exporters of tomatoes from Mexico entered into

three further suspension agreements. See Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, 67 Fed.

Reg. 77,044 (Dep’t of Commerce Dec. 16, 2002) (suspension of antidumping

investigation); Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, 73 Fed. Reg. 4831 (Dep’t of

Commerce Jan. 28, 2008) (suspension of antidumping investigation); Fresh

Tomatoes from Mexico (“2013 Suspension Agreement”), 78 Fed. Reg. 14,967

(Dep’t of Commerce Mar. 8, 2013) (suspension of antidumping investigation).

      Commerce gave notice to the signatory growers on February 6, 2019 of

Commerce’s intent to withdraw from the 2013 Suspension Agreement. Fresh
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                    Page 6

Tomatoes from Mexico, 84 Fed. Reg. 7872 (Dep’t of Commerce Mar. 5, 2019)

(intent to terminate suspension agreement, rescind the sunset and administrative

reviews, and resume the antidumping duty investigation); Fresh Tomatoes from

Mexico (“May 2019 Withdrawal Notice”), 84 Fed. Reg. 20,858 (Dep’t of

Commerce May 13, 2019) (termination of suspension agreement, rescission of

administrative review, and continuation of the antidumping duty investigation).

Commerce withdrew from the 2013 Suspension Agreement on May 7, 2019 and

resumed the underlying antidumping investigation. May 2019 Withdrawal Notice,

84 Fed. Reg. at 20,860.

      Commerce published on September 24, 2019 a notice that a new Suspension

Agreement had been reached between Commerce and the signatory parties and that

the antidumping duty investigation had been suspended. Fresh Tomatoes from

Mexico (“2019 Suspension Agreement”), 84 Fed. Reg. 49,987, 49,989 (Dep’t of

Commerce Sept. 24, 2019) (suspension of antidumping duty investigation). The

International Trade Commission subsequently announced the suspension of its

antidumping investigation. Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, 84 Fed. Reg. 54,639

(Int’l Trade Comm’n Oct. 10, 2019) (suspension of antidumping investigation).

      Commerce published its final determination in the continued investigation

on October 25, 2019, determining that fresh tomatoes from Mexico were being, or

were likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value. Final
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                Page 7

Determination, 84 Fed. Reg. at 57,402. The International Trade Commission

issued an affirmative injury determination on December 12, 2019. Fresh Tomatoes

from Mexico, 84 Fed. Reg. 67,958 (Int’l Trade Comm’n Dec. 12, 2019).

      II.   Litigation

      Plaintiffs filed three separate actions challenging Commerce’s continued

investigation and the Final Determination, beginning with filing the Summons in

Court Number 19-00204 on November 22, 2019 and in Court Number 19-00210

on December 3, 2019. Summons, ECF No. 1; Summons, Court No. 19-00210,

ECF No. 1. Plaintiffs filed the Complaint in Court Number 19-00204 on

December 20, 2019 and the Complaint in Court Number 19-00210 on December

23, 2019. Compl., ECF No. 9; Compl., Court No. 19-00210, ECF No. 9. Plaintiffs

filed the Summons and Complaint concurrently in Court Number 20-00035 on

February 5, 2020. Summons, Court No. 20-00035, ECF No. 1; Compl., Court No.

20-00035, ECF No. 4.

      Plaintiffs allege ten causes of action.1 See Am. Compl. at 6–8; Am. Compl.

at 6–8, Court No. 19-00210; Compl. at 6–7, Court No, 20-00035. Specifically,

Plaintiffs challenge as unlawful Commerce’s withdrawal from the 2013

1
  Though otherwise identical to the claims asserted in Court Numbers 19-00204
and 19-00210, Plaintiffs’ Complaint in Court Number 20-00035 does not include a
count 10. See Compl. at 7, Court No. 20-00035.
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                     Page 8

Suspension Agreement (claim 1(a)); Commerce’s resumption of the suspended

antidumping duty investigation (claims 1(a) and 1(c)); Commerce’s ending of the

investigation into the respondents that were the subject of Commerce’s 1996

preliminary determination and selection of new respondents for the continued

investigation (claim 2); the procedures Commerce followed in the resumed

investigation (claim 3); and the correctness of certain aspects of the Final

Determination (claims 4–10). Am. Compl. at 6–8; Am. Compl. at 6–8, Court No.

19-00210; Compl. at 6–7, Court No, 20-00035. In all, Plaintiffs ask the Court to

declare as unlawful and vacate Commerce’s withdrawal from the 2013 Suspension

Agreement and the subsequent Final Determination. Am. Compl. at 8; Am.

Compl. at 8, Court No. 19-00210; Compl. at 7, Court No, 20-00035.

      Defendant filed motions to dismiss pursuant to USCIT Rule 12(b)(1) for

lack of subject matter jurisdiction and USCIT Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a

claim upon which relief can be granted in each of the cases. Def.’s Mot. Dismiss,

ECF No. 30; Def.’s Mot. Dismiss, Court No. 19-00210, ECF No. 31; Def.’s Mot.

Dismiss, Court No. 20-00035, ECF No. 20. The Court granted the motions and

dismissed Plaintiffs’ claims with prejudice. Bioparques de Occidente, S.A. de

C.V., 44 CIT at __, 470 F. Supp. 3d at 1373.
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                    Page 9

      III.   Appeal

      Plaintiffs appealed the Court’s judgment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the

Federal Circuit (“CAFC”). Pls.’ Notice of Appeal, ECF No. 47. The CAFC

affirmed in part and remanded in part. Bioparques de Occidente, S.A. de C.V. v.

United States, 31 F.4th 1336, 1343–48 (Fed. Cir. 2022). The CAFC affirmed the

dismissal of Plaintiffs’ claims challenging the termination of the 2013 Suspension

Agreement and the negotiation of the 2019 Suspension Agreement. Id. at 1343.

The CAFC also held that because the Final Determination constituted as “an

affirmative final determination in a continued investigation that involves exports

from [a free trade agreement] country”2 and is reviewable under 19 U.S.C.

§ 1516a(g)(3)(A)(i), the Court has jurisdiction to consider Plaintiffs’ challenges to

the Final Determination under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c). Id. at 1346–48.

      On remand, the Court consolidated Plaintiffs’ three cases with the related

case Confederacion de Asociaciones Agricolas del Estado de Sinaloa, A.C., Court

2
  Mexico is a “free trade area country.” At the time Plaintiffs filed their Complaint
in January 2020, “free trade area country” included “Mexico for such time as the
[North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”)] is in force with respect to,
and the United States applies the NAFTA to, Mexico.” 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(f)(8),
(10) (2006). The statute was amended following the replacement of the NAFTA
with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (“USMCA”) to define “free
trade area country” to include “Mexico for such time as the USMCA is in force
with respect to, and the United States applies the USMCA to, Mexico.” 19 U.S.C.
§ 1516a(f)(9) (2020).
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                    Page 10

No. 19-00203. Consolidation Order. Plaintiffs filed Amended Complaints on

September 1, 2022 in Court Numbers 19-00204 and 19-00210. Am. Compl., ECF

No. 64; Am. Compl., Court No. 19-00210, ECF No. 69.

                            STANDARD OF REVIEW

      To adjudicate a case, a court must have subject-matter jurisdiction over the

claims presented. See Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env’t, 523 U.S. 83, 94–95

(1998). “[W]hen a federal court concludes that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction,

the complaint must be dismissed in its entirety.” Arbaugh v. Y & H Corp., 546

U.S. 500, 514 (2006); USCIT R. 12(h)(3). “[I]f the facts reveal any reasonable

basis upon which the non-movant may prevail, dismissal is inappropriate.” Airport

Road Ass., Ltd. v. United States, 866 F.3d 1346, 1351 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (quoting

Pixton v. B & B Plastics, Inc., 291 F.3d 1324, 1326 (Fed. Cir. 2002)). The party

asserting a claim bears the burden of establishing subject-matter jurisdiction, see

Wanxiang Am. Corp. v. United States, 12 F.4th 1369, 1373 (Fed. Cir. 2021), and

must allege sufficient facts to establish jurisdiction, see DaimlerChrysler Corp. v.

United States, 442 F.3d 1313, 1318 (Fed. Cir. 2006). In deciding a motion to

dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, the Court is “obligated to assume all factual

allegations to be true and to draw all reasonable inferences in plaintiff’s favor.”

Henke v. United States, 60 F.3d 795, 797 (Fed. Cir. 1995). For purposes of
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                  Page 11

establishing jurisdiction, “[s]ubstance, not form, is controlling.” Williams v. Sec’y

of the Navy, 787 F.2d 552, 557 (Fed. Cir. 1986).

                                   DISCUSSION

        I.    Asserted Claims and Jurisdictional Grounds

        Plaintiffs assert virtually identical claims in Court Numbers 19-00204, 19-

00210, and 20-00035. See Am. Compl. at 6–8; Am. Compl. at 6–8, Court No. 19-

00210; Compl. at 6–7, Court No, 20-00035. Each case asserts a different ground

for the Court’s jurisdiction. In Court Number 19-00204, Plaintiffs assert that the:

        action is commenced pursuant to Sections 516A(a)(2)(A) and (B)(iv)
        of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the “Act”), 19 U.S.C.
        §§ 1516a(a)(2)(A) and (B)(iv).        Consequently, this Court has
        jurisdiction over this matter by reason of 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c), which
        confers upon the Court exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions
        commenced under Section 516A of the Act.

Am. Compl. at 2. In Court Number 19-00210, Plaintiffs assert that the:

        action is commenced pursuant to Section 516A(g)(3)(A)(i) of the Act,
        19 U.S.C. § 1516a(g)(3)(A)(i), which permits review of final
        determinations by Commerce in cases involving North American Free
        Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”) countries when review by a binational
        panel has not been requested. Consequently, this Court has jurisdiction
        over this matter by reason of 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c), which confers upon
        the Court exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions commenced under
        Section 516A of the Act.

Am. Compl. at 2, Court No. 19-00210. In Court Number 20-00035, Plaintiffs assert

that:
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                  Page 12

      Except to the extent that the Court has jurisdiction over the claims set
      forth in this Complaint in Plaintiffs’ pending actions under 28 U.S.C.
      [§] 1581(c), the Court has subject matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C.
      § 1581(i), which confers upon this Court exclusive jurisdiction of a
      civil action arising under a law providing for the administration of
      tariffs and duties.

Compl. at 1–2, Court No. 20-00035.

      28 U.S.C. § 1581(c) provides the Court with jurisdiction over civil actions

commenced under 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(a) and 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(g). 28 U.S.C.

§ 1581(c). 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(a) makes reviewable by the U.S. Court of

International Trade final administrative determinations by Commerce in

antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations. 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(a).

19 U.S.C. § 1516a(g) makes reviewable by the U.S. Court of International Trade

final administrative determinations by Commerce in antidumping duty and

countervailing duty investigations involving free trade area countries when no

country requests review by a binational panel. Id. § 1516a(g).

      28 U.S.C. § 1581(i) provides the Court with residual jurisdiction over claims

that are not covered by another subsection of 28 U.S.C. § 1581. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1581(i). The Court may not invoke jurisdiction under § 1581(i) “when

jurisdiction under another subsection of § 1581 is or could have been available,

unless the remedy provided under that other subsection would be manifestly

inadequate.” Erwin Hymer Grp. N. Am., Inc. v. United States, 930 F.3d 1370,
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                 Page 13

1374–75 (Fed. Cir. 2019) (quoting Ford Motor Co. v. United States, 688 F.3d 1319,

1323 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (emphasis in original)). When jurisdiction is asserted under

28 U.S.C. § 1581(i), the party asserting the claim also “bears the burden of showing

that another subsection is either unavailable or manifestly inadequate.” Id. at 1375

(citing Sunpreme Inc. v. United States, 892 F.3d 1186, 1191 (Fed. Cir. 2018)).

      II.    Claims 1(a) and 1(c)

      Claims 1(a) and 1(c) in each of the cases assert that Commerce lacked

authority to resume or continue its investigation because “the U.S. domestic

industry had withdrawn the petition that led to the investigation and subsequent

suspension agreements in 2012” and “the deadline for requesting the continuation

of the suspended investigation expired in 1996, within 20 days after the publication

of Commerce’s notice of suspension of the agreement.” Am. Compl. at 6–7; Am.

Compl. at 6–7, Court No. 19-00210; Compl. at 6, Court No, 20-00035.

      Among the types of determinations reviewable under § 1581(c) are

determinations “to suspend an antidumping duty or a countervailing duty

investigation.” 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(A)(2)(B)(iv). Because claims 1(a) and 1(c)

challenge Commerce’s authority to continue or resume the antidumping duty

investigation on fresh tomatoes from Mexico following the termination of the 2013

Suspension Agreement, the Court has jurisdiction to consider the claims under
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                 Page 14

§ 1581(c). The Court cannot simultaneously assert jurisdiction over § 1581(i)

claims and therefore dismisses claims 1(a) and 1(c) in Court Number 20-00035.

      Defendant contends that claims 1(a) and 1(c) are precluded by the CAFC’s

holding in Confederacion de Asociaciones Agricolas del Estado de Sinaloa, A.C. v.

United States (“CAADES”), 32 F.4th 1130 (Fed. Cir. 2022). Def.’s Br. at 13–14

(citing CAADES, 32 F.4th at 1145). In CAADES, the CAFC considered a

challenge to Commerce’s continuation of the antidumping duty investigation under

the 2013 Suspension Agreement. CAADES, 32 F.4th at 1145. The CAFC held

that “[t]here is no independent jurisdiction” to consider challenges to “Commerce’s

resumption of the antidumping investigation following the 2013 agreement’s

termination.” Id. Relying on its holding in CAADES, the CAFC clarified in the

related case Jem D International Michigan Inc. v. United States, 2022 U.S. App.

LEXIS 10044 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 14, 2022), that the Court “has no jurisdiction over

such an interim challenge except as part of a challenge to a final determination.”

Jem D Int’l Michigan Inc., 2022 U.S. App LEXIS 10044, at *4 (emphasis added).

      Viewed in totality, Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaints in Court Numbers 19-

00204 and 19-00210 and Complaint in Court Number 20-00035 are challenges to

the Final Determination. Am. Compl. at 6–8; Am. Compl. at 6–8, Court No. 19-

00210; Compl. at 5–7, Court No. 20-00035. For example, claims 4 through 10

challenge Commerce’s calculations and methodology in reaching the Final
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                 Page 15

Determination. Am. Compl. at 7–8; Am. Compl. at 7–8, Court No. 19-00210;

Compl. at 7, Court No. 20-00035. Because Plaintiffs are challenging Commerce’s

Final Determination, the Court may consider Plaintiffs’ challenges to Commerce’s

interim decision to resume or continue the investigation under claims 1(a) and 1(c).

      III.   Claim 1(b)

      Claim 1(b) in each of the cases asserts that:

      Commerce’s purported withdrawal from the 2013 Suspension
      Agreement was legally invalid, because the statute and Commerce’s
      own regulations require Commerce to make certain findings before it is
      authorized to withdraw from a suspension agreement, and Commerce
      did not make any of those findings in this case.

Am. Compl. at 6; Am. Compl. at 67, Court No. 19-00210; Compl. at 6, Court No.

20-00035.

      On appeal, the CAFC ruled that because Commerce’s determination to

terminate a suspension agreement is not reviewable under 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(a) or

(g), jurisdiction to consider challenges to Commerce’s withdrawal from the 2013

Suspension Agreement exists under the residual jurisdiction provision of 28 U.S.C.

§ 1581(i). CAADES, 32 F.4th at 1138. Because the CAFC has held that the Court

has jurisdiction over claim 1(b) under § 1581(i), jurisdiction cannot simultaneously

exist under § 1581(c). Claims 1(b) in Court Numbers 19-00204 and 19-00210 are

dismissed.
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                   Page 16

      Though the Court has jurisdiction to consider claim 1(b) in Court Number

20-00035 under § 1581(i), the CAFC has already resolved the merits of the claim.

In CAADES, the CAFC considered materially identical challenges to Commerce’s

ability to terminate the 2013 Suspension Agreement and to enter into the 2019

Suspension Agreement. Id. at 1138–43. The CAFC concluded “that there is no

plausible claim upon which” relief could be granted. Id. at 1143. The CAFC held

that the CAADES holding controlled in its consideration of this case and

concluded that Plaintiffs’ challenges to the termination of the 2013 Suspension

Agreement and negotiation of the 2019 Suspension Agreement must be dismissed.

Bioparques de Occidente, S.A. de C.V, 31 F.4th at 1343. Plaintiffs concede that

the CAFC dismissed claim 1(b) on substantive grounds. Pls.’ Resp. at 3–4. The

Court, therefore, dismisses claim 1(b) in Court Number 20-00035.

      IV.    Claims 2 Through 10

      The three consolidated cases before the Court raise multiple challenges to

the methodology used by Commerce in the Final Determination. Am. Compl. at

7–8; Am. Compl. at 7–8, Court No. 19-00210; Compl. at 6–7, Court No. 20-00035.

Count 2 argues that Commerce improperly ceased its investigation of the original

respondents that were examined and were the subject of the 1996 preliminary

determination and examined new respondents in the resumed investigation that had

not participated in the preliminary phase of the investigation, including Plaintiffs.
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                  Page 17

Am. Compl. at 7; Am. Compl. at 7, Court No. 19-00210; Compl. at 6, Court No.

20-00035. Count 3 alleges that Commerce failed to abide by applicable deadlines

and procedures during the resumed investigation and denied the newly added

respondents’ due process rights. Am. Compl. at 7; Am. Compl. at 7, Court No. 19-

00210; Compl. at 6, Court No. 20-00035. Counts 4 through 10 challenge aspects

of the calculation methodology used by Commerce in the Final Determination.

Am. Compl. at 7–8; Am. Compl. at 7–8, Court No. 19-00210; Compl. at 6–7,

Court No. 20-00035.

      In considering the facts of this case, the CAFC held that “an affirmative final

determination in a continued investigation that involves exports from [a free trade

agreement] country is reviewable under § 1516a(g)(3)(A)(i) as a determination

under § 1516a(a)(2)(B)(i), which provides the Trade Court jurisdiction under 28

U.S.C. § 1581(c).” Bioparques de Occidente, S.A. de C.V., 31 F.4th at 1346–48.

The Court concludes that jurisdiction exists under § 1581(c) for claims 2 through

10 challenging the Final Determination. Because jurisdiction under § 1581(i) is

improper, counts 2 through 9 in Court Number 20-00035 are dismissed.

                                 CONCLUSION

      In summary, the Court concludes that jurisdiction exists over claims 1(a),

1(c), and 2 through 10 under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c). Jurisdiction exists over claim

1(b) under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(i). Because the CAFC affirmed the dismissal of
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                   Page 18

claim 1(b) based on Plaintiffs’ failure to state a claim on which relief could be

granted, claim 1(b) is dismissed. For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby

      ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 65, is granted in

part (claims 1(b) in Court Numbers 19-00204 and 19-00210 and claims 1(a), 1(c),

and 2 through 9 in Court Number 20-00035 are dismissed), and denied in part

(claims 1(a) and 1(c) in Court Numbers 19-00204 and 19-00210 remain); and it is

further

      ORDERED that Defendant-Intervenor’s Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 66, is

granted in part (claims 1(b) in Court Numbers 19-00204 and 19-00210 and claims

1(a), 1(c), and claims 2 through 9 in Court Number 20-00035 are dismissed), and is

denied in part (claims 1(a) and 1(c) in Court Numbers 19-00204 and 19-00210

remain); and it is further

      ORDERED that claim 1(b) in Court Number 20-00035 has been resolved

on its merits by the CAFC and is dismissed; and it is further

      ORDERED that because all claims in Court Number 20-00035 have been

resolved by this Opinion, Court Number 20-00035 is dismissed and is removed

from Consolidated Court Number 19-00204. Judgment will be entered

accordingly; and it is further
Consol. Court No. 19-00204                                                Page 19

      ORDERED that this case shall proceed in accordance with the schedule set

in the Court’s March 30, 2023 Order, ECF No. 90, as follows:

      1. Amended 56.2 motions, if any, shall be filed on or before May 30, 2023;

      2. Response briefs to motions for judgment upon the agency record shall be

         filed on or before June 29, 2023;

      3. Reply briefs shall be filed on or before August 14, 2023;

      4. The joint appendix shall be filed on or before August 28, 2023; and

      5. Motions for oral argument, if any, shall be filed on or before September

         5, 2023.

                                                       /s/ Jennifer Choe-Groves
                                                      Jennifer Choe-Groves, Judge

Dated: May 1, 2023
      New York, New York