Court Opinion

ID: 4127155
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-17 17:01:48.470368+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:46:26.358140
License: Public Domain

Slip Op. 17-18

                 UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE

 CP KELCO US, INC.,
                             Plaintiff,

 v.

 UNITED STATES,                                        Before: Richard W. Goldberg, Senior Judge
                             Defendant,                Consol. Court No. 13-00288
 and

 NEIMENGGU FUFENG
 BIOTECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. and
 SHANDONG FUFENG FERMENTATION,
 CO., LTD.,
               Defendant-Intervenors.

                                  OPINION AND ORDER
[Remanding the Department of Commerce’s remand redetermination.]

                                                                     Dated: February 17, 2017
       Matthew L. Kanna, Arent Fox LLP, of Washington, DC, for plaintiff.

       Alexander O. Canizares, Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division,
U.S. Department of Justice, of Washington, DC, for defendant. With him on the brief were
Benjamin C. Mizer, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Jeanne E. Davidson, Director,
and Patricia M. McCarthy, Assistant Director. Of Counsel on the brief was Heather N. Doherty,
Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of
Commerce, of Washington, DC.

       Mark E. Pardo, Andrew T. Schutz, Dharmendra Choudhary, and Brandon Petelin,
Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman & Klestadt LLP, of Washington, DC, for defendant-
intervenors.

       Goldberg, Senior Judge: This matter returns to the court following a second remand of

the final determination of the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce” or “the Department”)

in its antidumping investigation of xanthan gum from the People’s Republic of China. Xanthan
Consol. Court No. 13-00288                                                                  Page 2

Gum from the People’s Republic of China, 78 Fed. Reg. 33,351 (Dep’t Commerce June 4, 2013)

(final determ.) (“Final Determination”) and accompanying Issues & Decision Mem. (“I&D

Mem.”); Xanthan Gum from the People’s Republic of China, 78 Fed. Reg. 43,143 (Dep’t

Commerce July 19, 2013) (am. final determ.). The two prior opinions of this court more

completely set forth the facts underlying this matter. CP Kelco US, Inc. v. United States, Slip

Op. 15-27, 2015 WL 1544714 (CIT March 31, 2015) (“CP Kelco I”); CP Kelco US, Inc. v.

United States, Slip Op. 16-36, 2016 WL 1403657 (CIT April 8, 2016) (“CP Kelco II”). The

court presumes familiarity with those opinions and repeats only the facts critical to the

disposition of this case. For the reasons discussed below, the court again remands for Commerce

to modify or more thoroughly explain its selection of surrogate financial ratio data.

                                        BACKGROUND

       In its Final Determination, Commerce concluded that the financial statements of

Ajinomoto (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (“Thai Ajinomoto”) were a better source for calculating

surrogate financial ratios than the statements of Thai Fermentation Industry Ltd. (“Thai

Fermentation”). I&D Mem. 14, 16. To arrive at this conclusion, Commerce first disregarded the

Thai Fermentation statements on the basis that the record did not contain a full English

translation. Id. at 16. Commerce did so without making a finding that the untranslated portions

were “vital” to Commerce’s calculations. Id. Commerce then selected the only remaining

statements, those of Thai Ajinomoto, despite the fact that the Thai Ajinomoto statements “show

evidence of the receipt of countervailable subsidies.” Id. Defendant-Intervenors Neimenggu

Fufeng Biotechnologies, Co., Ltd. and Shandong Fufeng Fermentation Co., Ltd. (collectively,

“Fufeng”) challenged this determination, arguing that Commerce had failed to justify its

disregard of the Thai Fermentation statements. Def.-Intervenor Rule 56.2 Mot. for J. on the
Consol. Court No. 13-00288                                                                    Page 3

Agency R. 13–21, ECF No. 26 (Mar. 6, 2014). The court agreed and remanded for Commerce to

provide a more robust explanation for its choice of financial statements. CP Kelco I, 2015 WL

1544714, at *7.

       Commerce then submitted its Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Court

Remand, ECF No. 82 (July 28, 2015) (“First Remand Results”). Commerce again chose the

Thai Ajinomoto statements over the Thai Fermentation statements, justifying its selection by

explaining the issues generally posed by incomplete financial statements. First Remand Results

10–12. However, the court again remanded the issue, finding that Commerce still gave short

shrift to the issues presented by the countervailable subsidies reflected in the Thai Ajinomoto

statements. CP Kelco II, 2016 WL 1403657, at *5. Commerce had not conducted an equitable

comparison.

       The court presented Commerce with three paths it could take in order to render a more

reasoned and supported decision. Commerce could “compare the Thai Ajinomoto and Thai

Fermentation financial statements side by side in an evenhanded manner, evaluating the relative

strengths and weaknesses of each.” Id. As an alternative, in accordance with past practice,

Commerce could “find that the Thai Fermentation statements are missing ‘vital information,’”

should the record support such a finding. Id. at *5 n.5. Finally, the court stated that “[a]nother

prospective alternative would be for Commerce to put its resources towards explaining a change

in its practice, from rejecting statements when they are missing vital information (and, outside of

this practice, occasionally one-off rejecting statements that are incomplete) to invariably

rejecting any incomplete statements.” Id.

       Commerce, as it did in its Final Determination and First Remand Results, has again

determined that the Thai Ajinomoto statements are the better surrogate financial ratio source.
Consol. Court No. 13-00288                                                                    Page 4

Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Ct. Order 8, ECF No. 109 (Aug. 22, 2016)

(“Second Remand Results”). This time, the determination is based on what Commerce concedes

is a new practice of “rejecting from use financial statements that are incomplete . . . unless there

are no other financial statements left on the record.” Id. at 7.

        Fufeng filed comments challenging Commerce’s selection of the Thai Ajinomoto

statements. Def.-Intervenor Fufeng Comments on 2nd Final Results of Redetermination

Pursuant to Ct. Order, ECF No. 112 (Sept. 21, 2016) (“Fufeng Comments”). Specifically,

Fufeng argues that application of Commerce’s policy would be improperly retroactive and that

Commerce’s disregard of the Thai Fermentation statements continues to be contrary to law and

lacking the support of substantial evidence. Id. at 5, 9.

        Although Commerce generally may change its practices and policies, the court finds that

the practice Commerce advances here is not reasonable and that it results in an unsupported

determination. Therefore, the court again remands for Commerce to modify or more thoroughly

explain its selection of surrogate financial ratio data.

                       JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW

        The court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c). The court will sustain

Commerce’s remand redeterminations if they “are supported by substantial evidence, are

otherwise in accordance with law” and “are consistent with the court’s remand order.” Ad Hoc

Shrimp Trade Action Comm. v. United States, 38 CIT __, __, 992 F. Supp. 2d 1285, 1290 (2014);

see also 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(b)(1)(B)(i). Further, in evaluating agency decisions, “[c]ourts look

for a reasoned analysis or explanation.” Wheatland Tube Co. v. United States, 161 F.3d 1365,

1369 (Fed. Cir. 1998).
Consol. Court No. 13-00288                                                                       Page 5

                                           DISCUSSION

       As discussed, the court provided that, among other options, Commerce could “put its

resources towards explaining a change in its practice” in order to remedy the lingering

deficiencies in the Department’s prior remand redetermination. CP Kelco II, 2016 WL 1403657,

at *5 n.5. Commerce elected to proceed under this option. Commerce first “acknowledge[d]

that the Department has not consistently, across all past cases, applied a stated practice of

rejecting all ‘incomplete’ financial statements.” Second Remand Results 5. Commerce then

represented that it “intends to follow a practice of rejecting from use financial statements that are

incomplete . . . unless there are no other financial statements left on the record.” Id. at 7.

Commerce seeks to apply this practice to these proceedings. Id. at 8. According to Fufeng, this

“retroactive application of a new policy is improper.” Fufeng Comments 7.

       This Court has recognized that Commerce has discretion to change its policies and

practices. See Pakfood Pub. Co. v. United States, 35 CIT __, __, 753 F. Supp. 2d 1334, 1342

(2011) (citing Nakornthai Strip Mill Pub. Co. v. United States, 32 CIT 1272, 1276, 587 F. Supp.

2d 1303, 1307 (2008)) aff’d, 453 F. App’x 986 (Fed. Cir. 2011). Moreover, “[c]hanges in

methodology . . . permissibly involve retroactive effect.” Koyo Seiko Co. v. United States, 31

CIT 1512, 1520, 516 F. Supp. 2d 1323, 1334 (2007). Therefore, contrary to Fufeng’s insistence,

there is nothing per se inappropriate about Commerce advancing a new practice at this stage in

the proceedings.

       However, “when an agency departs from its practice, it must ‘clearly set forth’ the ground

‘so that the reviewing court may understand the basis of the agency’s action and so may judge

the consistency of that action with the agency’s mandate.’” Hangzhou Spring Washer Co. v.

United States, 29 CIT 657, 667, 387 F. Supp. 2d 1236, 1246 (2005) (quoting Atchison, Topeka &
Consol. Court No. 13-00288                                                                    Page 6

Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. Wichita Bd. of Trade, 412 U.S. 800, 808 (1973)). In other words, Commerce

may adopt and apply a new practice so long as the practice is “reasonable and consistent with

[Commerce’s] statutory mandate” and any resulting determinations are “explained and supported

by substantial evidence on the record.” Pakfood, 35 CIT at __, 753 F. Supp. 2d at 1342 (citing

another source).

        The court finds that Commerce’s new policy (I) is not consistent with Commerce’s

statutory mandate and (II) leads to an unreasoned outcome not supported by the record in these

proceedings.

   I.      Commerce’s New Policy is Not Consistent with its Statutory Mandate.

        Commerce accepted the court’s invitation to put its resources towards explaining and

justifying the new practice of “rejecting from use financial statements that are incomplete . . .

unless there are no other financial statements left on the record.” Second Remand Results 7.

However, after considering Commerce’s explanation, the court is unpersuaded that the new

practice squares with the law.

        When selecting surrogate financial data to calculate the value of the factors of production,

Commerce is required to make use of the “best available information.” 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(c)(1);

Shakeproof Assembly Components, Div. of Ill. Tool Works, Inc. v. United States, 268 F.3d 1376,

1382 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (“the critical question is whether the methodology used by Commerce is

based on the best available information and establishes the antidumping margins as accurately as

possible.”). Further, “Commerce has broad discretion to determine what constitutes the best

available information.” Qingdao Sea-Line Trading Co. v. United States, 766 F.3d 1378, 1386

(Fed. Cir. 2014).
Consol. Court No. 13-00288                                                                  Page 7

       Commerce explained that in selecting surrogate financial data, it considers “the

availability of contemporaneous financial statements, comparability to the respondent’s

production experience, and publically available information,” as well as whether “the potential

statements are complete and fully translated, free of countervailable subsidies, include a clean

audit report opinion, and provide sufficient detail” for the relevant calculations. First Remand

Results 8. Although Commerce has discretion in applying and weighing these factors, the court

finds that Commerce’s new practice is not reasonably aimed at identifying the best available

information or calculating the antidumping margins as accurately as possible. Rather,

Commerce appears to seek free reign to disregard what very well could be the “best available

evidence” in a given proceeding.

       Commerce insists that its new practice “avoids the Department’s speculation as to

whether the missing information is a ‘critical’ or ‘key’ component for the calculation of the

surrogate financial ratios.” Second Remand Results 7–8. Of course, the court has little doubt

that the new policy would make Commerce’s task an easier one, reducing the need for

“speculation.” But it is not the job of the court to help smooth Commerce’s path if doing so

would sanction Commerce’s circumvention of its statutory responsibilities. See F.C.C. v. Fox

Television Stations, Inc., 556 U.S. 502, 515 (2009) (an agency’s new policy must be “permissible

under the statute”). Ultimately, what Commerce terms “speculation” might be better understood

as the difficult but nonetheless required analysis of the evidence on the record.

       Indeed, Commerce has shown itself readily able to conduct such analyses in prior

investigations. See, e.g., Assoc. of Am. Sch. Paper Suppliers v. Unites States (“AASPS”), 35 CIT

__, __, 791 F. Supp. 2d 1292, 1299 (2011). In the AASPS proceedings plaintiff argued, and

Commerce did not contest, that the financial statements at issue were missing “data required
Consol. Court No. 13-00288                                                                           Page 8

under Indian law” and “numerous schedules.” Id. Nevertheless, Commerce deemed the

financial statements useful because they “contained a director’s report, auditor’s reports, balance

sheet, profit and loss statement, notes, and accounting policies.” Id. Commerce defended its

selection of incomplete financial statements on the basis that the Department’s “primary concern

is whether the financial statements contain usable data.” Id.

        A reasoned analysis and substantial evidence can also support Commerce’s rejection of

partially translated financial statements. Commerce has at least two legitimate paths it can take

in eliminating such statements from contention. First, consistent with its broad discretion,

Commerce may determine, after a reasoned and supported comparison of the available evidence,

that the partially translated statements are ultimately inferior to other available data. Commerce

may do so without first finding that that the missing information is “vital.” See CP Kelco I, 2015

WL 1544714, *7.

        Second, Commerce can disregard incomplete statements without first comparing and

contrasting the strengths and weaknesses of all available data, if the missing information is

reasonably deemed vital. 1 The court recently endorsed this practice. See Mid Continent Steel &

Wire, Inc. v. United States, 41 CIT __, __, Slip Op. 17-5 at 28 (Jan. 26, 2017) (finding that

substantial evidence supported Commerce’s decision to summarily discard financial statements

1
         See, e.g., Wooden Bedroom Furniture from the People’s Republic of China, 71 Fed. Reg. 70,739
(Dep’t Commerce Dec. 6, 2006) (final results) and accompanying Issues & Decisions Mem. at cmt. 2
(citing Department practice of disregarding statements “missing key sections . . . vital to our analysis and
calculations” in support of decision to discard financial statements missing “an auditor’s report . . .
schedules, the auditor’s opinions and notes to the financial statements.”); Polyethylene Retail Carrier
Bags from the People’s Republic of China, 74 Fed. Reg. 6,857 (Dep’t Commerce Feb. 11, 2009) (final
results) and accompanying Issues & Decisions Mem. at cmt. 2 (“the missing page(s) likely summarize
Polyplast’s . . . production, work in progress, waste generation, and plastic consumption. Such
information is critical for determining not only whether Polyplast’s income comes primarily from its
manufacturing operations but also for determining whether Polyplast is a producer of identical
merchandise.”).
Consol. Court No. 13-00288                                                                         Page 9

that left untranslated “the audit report . . . as well as several financial statements and all footnotes

with the exception of a note related to income taxes,” information Commerce had “deemed

vital”).

           In sum, Commerce has exhibited at least three approaches to dealing with incomplete

financial statements in prior investigations: (1) evaluate and accept notwithstanding

incompleteness, (2) compare with other available data and reject, and (3) determine that missing

information is “vital” and reject. This flexible methodology across previous investigations

highlights Commerce’s ability to apply its expertise to evaluating the record under less than ideal

circumstances. And in evaluating the record before it – instead of preemptively discarding

evidence – Commerce demonstrates a meaningful effort to identify the “best available

information.” Commerce has simply not made the case for replacing a flexible, record-driven

approach with an unduly rigid, one-size-fits-all practice. See Fox Television Stations, 556 U.S.

at 515 (stating that an “agency must show that there are good reasons for the new policy”). 2

    II.       Commerce’s Selection of Surrogate Financial Data is Neither Reasoned Nor
              Supported by Substantial Evidence.

           The facts here deftly illustrate the flaws in Commerce’s new practice. Application of the

practice to these proceedings results in a determination unaccompanied by a reasoned analysis

and unsupported by substantial evidence. This court previously found that the Thai Fermentation

statements were fully translated with the exception of “two paragraphs at the bottom of

accounting note twelve, concerning depreciation” and that “[a]ccounting note twelve nonetheless

contained a fully translated depreciation schedule.” CP Kelco I, 2015 WL 1544714, at *6.

2
        Additionally, each of Commerce’s prior practices puts interested parties in a position to challenge
whether Commerce’s decision in fact enjoys the support of substantial evidence. By contrast,
Commerce’s new practice would preclude nearly any review of a decision to discard an incomplete
financial statement, no matter how reliable or superior that particular statement may otherwise be.
Consol. Court No. 13-00288                                                                        Page 10

Commerce summarily discarded these statements in favor of the statements of Thai Ajinomoto, a

company that apparently receives countervailable subsidies, as Commerce concedes. Second

Remand Results 8. The court has repeatedly invited Commerce to explain the weaknesses in the

Thai Ajinomoto statements and to compare them with the weaknesses of the Thai Fermentation

statements. See, e.g., CP Kelco II, 2016 WL 1403657, at *5. Commerce declined each

invitation. Commerce has yet to provide any discussion of the issues presented by the use of the

Thai Ajinomoto statements or, more generally, by the use of financial statements that reflect

countervailable subsidies.

        Instead, Commerce merely concluded that, “although they show evidence of

countervailable subsidies,” the Thai Ajinomoto statements are “complete and reliable” such that

“there is no risk that a party to this proceeding has withheld or omitted information from

Ajinomoto’s financial statements.” First Remand Results 11. This circular observation tells the

court nothing about whether or how countervailable subsidies might render the Thai Ajinomoto

statements unreliable or unrepresentative. The court is left with the impression that Commerce

may have fashioned an analysis to fit a predetermined preference for the Thai Ajinomoto

statements. The court will not characterize such reverse engineering as a reasoned analysis. 3

3
         Commerce also explained that its “general practice is to disregard financial statements that show
a company has received countervailable subsidies” as long as “there are other reliable data on the record.”
First Remand Results 9. This admission is significant for two reasons. First, it makes plain that, in the
view of Commerce, countervailable subsidies undermine the reliability of financial data in a manner
unrelated to completeness. Yet, to date, Commerce has wholly failed to discuss these reliability concerns
in the context of the Thai Ajinomoto statements. Second, while Commerce’s general practice concerning
countervailable subsidies looks similar to its new policy concerning incomplete statements, the two
policies differ in one critical respect. Commerce will admittedly only discard statements showing
evidence of countervailing subsidies when there are other reliable data on the record. This policy does
not conflict with Commerce’s duty to select the best available information. By contrast, Commerce’s
new policy would permit it to discard financial statements that by all metrics are reliable, save for a de
minimus untranslated portion, in favor of unreliable data. As such, Commerce’s new policy is not in
harmony with its statutory mandate.
Consol. Court No. 13-00288                                                                    Page 11

       Nor does the court find that Commerce has pointed to substantial evidence in support of

its current selection of surrogate financial information. Mirroring its thin discussion of the Thai

Ajinomoto statements, Commerce’s rejection of the Thai Fermentation statements conspicuously

fails to reference the Thai Fermentation statements. Instead, Commerce relies only on general

concerns related to incomplete statements, such as the possibility that a party may seek to game

the system by submitting selectively translated financial statements. Second Remand Results 8.

This is, of course, a legitimate concern in the abstract. But unlike in Mid Continent, where the

statements at issue were missing the audit report, several financial statements, and all but one

footnote, 41 CIT at __, Slip Op. 17-5 at 28, here it is not at all clear that those general concerns

are raised by a single, partially untranslated footnote concerning depreciation. In other words,

Commerce has not marshalled substantial evidence in these proceedings to support reasoning

that might be germane to other proceedings. This further underscores the hazard of sanctioning a

practice that excuses Commerce from grappling with the record before it.

       Thus, Commerce has not met its burden to issue a reasoned and supported determination.

See Goldlink Indus. Co. v. United States, 30 CIT 616, 619, 431 F. Supp. 2d 1323, 1327 (2006)

(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.”); see also Blue Field (Sichuan) Food Indus. Co. v. United States, 37 CIT

__, __, 949 F. Supp. 2d 1311, 1329 (2013) (“Commerce must defend its surrogate choices when

the record suggests other data more accurately value . . . inputs.”). Accordingly, the court again

remands Commerce’s selection of surrogate financial data. Specifically, Commerce should not

select the Thai Ajinomoto statements unless it first compares the Thai Ajinomoto and Thai

Fermentation financial statements side by side in an evenhanded manner, evaluating the relative
Consol. Court No. 13-00288                                                                  Page 12

strengths and weaknesses of each. See CP Kelco I, 2015 WL 1544714, at *7 (“When presented

with multiple imperfect potential surrogate-data sources, Commerce must faithfully compare the

strengths and weaknesses of each before deciding which to use.”) (citing another source). In the

alternative, Commerce can reject the Thai Fermentation statements after making a reasoned

finding that the two untranslated paragraphs in footnote twelve are “vital” to the Department’s

analysis of the data. To be clear, the court will not accept the truism that “any missing

information may be vital.” See Second Remand Results 7. Rather, under this alternative,

Commerce must specifically discuss what is missing from the Thai Fermentation statements and

how the fact of the missing information impedes the Department’s calculations.

                                 CONCLUSION AND ORDER

       For the reasons stated above, the court remands Commerce’s selection of surrogate

financial data.

       Upon consideration of all papers and proceedings herein, it is hereby:

       ORDERED that the Second Remand Results are remanded to Commerce for
redetermination in accordance with this Opinion and Order; it is further

        ORDERED that Commerce must issue a redetermination (“Remand Redetermination”)
in accordance with this Opinion and Order that is in all respects supported by substantial
evidence, supported by adequate reasoning, and in accordance with law, including the mandate
under 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(c)(1)(B) that Commerce use the “best available information”; it is
further

        ORDERED that Commerce shall reevaluate whether the Thai Ajinomoto or Thai
Fermentation financial statements constitute the better source for surrogate financial ratios by
either (1) explicitly exploring the relative impact of the imperfection in the Thai Ajinomoto
statements (evidence of subsidies) and that in the Thai Fermentation statements (incompleteness)
or (2) making a fact-sensitive finding that the Thai Fermentation statements are missing “vital”
information; it is further

        ORDERED that Commerce shall recalculate the surrogate financial ratios consistent
with any changes in its selection of financial statements and shall recalculate Fufeng’s weighted-
average dumping margins consistent with any recalculation of the surrogate financial ratios; it is
further
Consol. Court No. 13-00288                                                               Page 13

         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-Intervenor shall have thirty (30) days from
the filing of the Remand Redetermination in which to file comments thereon; and that the
Defendant shall have thirty (30) days from the filing of Plaintiff and Defendant-Intervenor’s
comments to file comments.

                                                                        /s/ Richard W. Goldberg
                                                                            Richard W. Goldberg
                                                                                    Senior Judge
Dated: February 17, 2017
New York, New York