Barnett, Judge:
This matter is before the court following the U.S. Department of Commerces (Commerce or the agency) redetermination upon remand in this case. See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Court Remand (Remand Results), ECF No. 105-1.
Plaintiffs Jacobi Carbons AB and Jacobi Carbons, Inc. (together, Jacobi), and Plaintiff-Intervenors (collectively, with Jacobi, Plaintiffs), initiated this case challenging Commerces final results in the seventh administrative review (AR7) of the antidumping duty order on certain activated carbon from the Peoples Republic of China (PRC or China).See Certain Activated Carbon from the Peoples Republic of China , 80 Fed. Reg. 61,172 (Dept Commerce Oct. 9, 2015) (final results of antidumping duty admin. review; 2013-2014) ( Final Results ), ECF No. 37-3, and accompanying Issues and Decision Mem., A-570-904 (Oct. 2, 2015) (I & D Mem.), ECF No. 37-4. Plaintiffs challenged Commerces (1) selection of Thailand as the primary surrogate country, (2) selection of Thai surrogate values to value financial ratios and carbonized material, and (3) reduction of Jacobis constructed export price (CEP) by an amount for irrecoverable value added tax (VAT). See generally Confidential Pls. Jacobi Carbons AB and Jacobi Carbons, Inc.s Mot. for J. on the Agency R. and Pls. Br. in Supp. of their Mot. for J. on the Agency R. (Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem.), ECF No. 51; Pls. Carbon Activated Tianjin Co., Ltd., Jilin Bright Future Chemicals Company, Ltd., Ningxia Mineral and Chemical Limited, Shanxi DMD Corporation, Shanxi Industry Technology Trading Co., Ltd., Shanxi Sincere Industrial Co., Ltd., Tancarb Activated Carbon Co., Ltd., and Tianjin Maijin Industries Co., Ltd. Mot. for J. on the Agency R., ECF No. 59; Pls. Carbon Activated Tianjin Co., Ltd., Jilin Bright Future Chemicals Company, Ltd., Ningxia Mineral and Chemical Limited, Shanxi DMD Corporation, Shanxi Industry Technology Trading Co., Ltd., Shanxi Sincere Industrial Co., Ltd., Tancarb Activated Carbon Co., Ltd., and Tianjin Maijin Industries Co., Ltd. Mem. in Supp. of Mot. for J. on the Agency R. (CATC Rule 56.2 Mem.), ECF No. 59-2 (incorporating Jacobis arguments and providing additional arguments on all issues); Pl.-Int. Ningxia Huahui Activated Carbon Co., Ltd.s Rule 56.2 Mot. for J. on the Agency R., ECF No. 58 (incorporating Jacobis arguments regarding surrogate country and surrogate value selection, adopting Jacobis arguments regarding VAT and making additional arguments thereto); Mot. of GDLSK Pl.-Ints. for J. on the Agency R. under USCIT Rule 56.2 and Mem. of Law in Supp. of GDLSK Pls. Rule 56.2 Mot. for J. on the Agency R., ECF No. 60 (adopting all arguments made by Jacobi and providing additional argument regarding VAT).
On April 7, 2017, the court remanded Commerces surrogate country selection (in particular, its de terminations vis-à-vis economic comparability and significant production of comparable merchandise), and Commerces irrecoverable VAT adjustment for further explanation or reconsideration, and deferred considering Plaintiffs arguments regarding Thai surrogate values pending the results of Commerces remand redetermination. See Jacobi Carbons AB v. United States (Jacobi (AR7) I ), 41 CIT ----, 222 F.Supp.3d 1159 (2017). Commerce filed its remand redetermination on August 10, 2017. See Remand Results. Therein, Commerce retained Thailand as the primary surrogate country and further explained its VAT calculation. See id.
Jacobi, CATC, and Cherishmet filed comments opposing the Remand Results. See Jacobis Comment on Commerces Remand Redetermination (Jacobi Oppn Cmts), ECF No. 108; Consol. Pls. Carbon Activated Tianjin Co., Ltd., Jilin Bright Future Chemicals Company, Ltd., Ningxia Mineral and Chemical Limited, Shanxi DMD Corporation, Shanxi Industry Technology Trading Co., Ltd., Shanxi Sincere Industrial Co., Ltd., Tancarb Activated Carbon Co., Ltd., and Tianjin Maijin Industries Co., Ltd. Comments in Oppn to U.S. Department of Commerces Remand Redetermination (CATC Oppn Cmts), ECF No. 107; GDLSK Pls. Comment on Commerces Remand Redetermination, ECF No. 109 (adopting Jacobis comments). Defendant and Defendant-Intervenors filed comments in support of the Remand Results. See Def.s Reply to Pls., Consol. Pls., and Pl-Ints. Respective Comments on the Remand Redetermination (Gov. Supp. Cmts), ECF No. 112; Def.-Ints. Responsive Comments in Supp. of U.S. Department of Commerces Remand Redetermination (Def-Ints. Supp. Cmts), ECF No. 113. On February 15, 2018, the court held oral argument on the irrecoverable VAT issue. See Order (Jan. 26, 2018), ECF No. 117; Docket Entry, ECF No. 121.
For the following reasons, the court sustains Commerces economic comparability determination but remands its determinations regarding significant production of comparable merchandise, surrogate value selections, and the irrecoverable VAT adjustment.
JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
The court has jurisdiction pursuant to § 516A(a)(2)(B)(iii) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(a)(2)(B)(iii) (2012), and 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c). The court will uphold an agency determination that is supported by substantial evidence and otherwise in accordance with law. 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(b)(1)(B)(i). The results of a redetermination pursuant to court remand are also reviewed for compliance with the courts remand order. SolarWorld Americas, Inc. v. United States , 41 CIT ----, ----, 273 F.Supp.3d 1314, 1317 (2017) (quoting Xinjiamei Furniture (Zhangzhou) Co. v. United States , 38 CIT ----, ----, 968 F.Supp.2d 1255, 1259 (2014) (internal quotation marks omitted).
DISCUSSION
I. Relevant Legal Framework for Nonmarket Economy Proceedings
An antidumping duty is the amount by which the normal value exceeds the export price (or the constructed export price) for the merchandise. 19 U.S.C. § 1673. When an antidumping duty proceeding involves a nonmarket economy country, Commerce determines normal value by valuing the factors of production in a surrogate country, see 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(c)(1), and those values are referred to as surrogate values. In selecting surrogate values, Commerce must use the best available information that is, to the extent possible, from a market economy country or countries that are economically comparable to the nonmarket economy country and significant producers of comparable merchandise. Id. § 1677b(c)(1),(4). In selecting its surrogate values, Commerce generally prefers publicly-available and non-proprietary information from producers of identical or comparable merchandise in the surrogate country. 19 C.F.R. § 351.408(c)(1),(4). Commerces practice is to select, to the extent practicable, [surrogate values] which are product-specific, representative of a broad-market average, publicly available and contemporaneous with the POR [period of review], and tax and duty exclusive. I & D Mem. at 25.
Commerce generally values all factors of production in a single surrogate country. Commerce has adopted a four-step approach to selecting a primary surrogate country. See Import Admin., U.S. Dept of Commerce, Non-Market Economy Surrogate Country Selection Process , Policy Bulletin 04.1 (2004), http://enforcement.trade.gov/policy/bull04-1.html (last visited April 10, 2018) (hereinafter Policy Bulletin 04.1). Pursuant to Policy Bulletin 04.1,
(1) the Office of Policy (OP) assembles a list of potential surrogate countries that are at a comparable level of economic development to the [non-market economy] country; (2) Commerce identifies countries from the list with producers of comparable merchandise; (3) Commerce determines whether any of the countries which produce comparable merchandise are significant producers of that comparable merchandise; and (4) if more than one country satisfies steps (1)-(3), Commerce will select the country with the best factors data.
Jiaxing Brother Fastener Co., Ltd. v. United States , 822 F.3d 1289, 1293 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (citation omitted); see also Policy Bulletin 04.1.
When calculating export price and constructed export price, Commerce may deduct the amount, if included in such price, of any export tax, duty, or other charge imposed by the exporting country on the exportation of the subject merchandise to the United States, other than an export tax, duty, or other charge described in section 1677(6)(C) of this title. 19 U.S.C. § 1677a(c)(2)(B). Such price adjustments must be reasonably attributable to the subject merchandise. 19 C.F.R. § 351.401(c).
In 2012, Commerce reconsidered its unwillingness to apply § 1677a(c)(2)(B) to certain NME countries, including China, and, henceforth, considers whether the PRC has imposed an export tax, duty, or other charge upon export of the subject merchandise during the period of investigation or the period of review, including, for example, an export tax or VAT that is not fully refunded upon exportation. Methodological Change for Implementation of Section 772(c)(2)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as Amended, In Certain Non-Market Economy Antidumping Proceedings , 77 Fed. Reg. 36,481, 36,482 (Dept Commerce June 19, 2012) ("
Methodological Change ) (internal quotation marks omitted). If it has, Commerce will reduce the respondents export price and constructed export price accordingly, by the amount of the tax, duty or charge paid, but not rebated. Id. at 36,483. When the VAT is a fixed percentage of the price, Commerce will adjust the export price or constructed export price downward by the same percentage. Id. [B]ecause these are taxes affirmatively imposed by the Chinese ... government[ ], Commerce presume[s] that they are also collected." Id.
II. Economic Comparability
In briefing their original Rule 56.2 motions, Plaintiffs argued that Commerce erred when it excluded the Philippines as a potential surrogate country solely on the basis of economic comparability and declined to consider its significant production of comparable merchandise and data quality. See Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 9-13; CATC Rule 56.2 Mem. at 5 (asserting that [Commerce] cannot lawfully make one criterion a threshold requirement ....). The court upheld Commerces sequential surrogate country selection methodology, but found that its economic comparability determination in this matter lacked reasoned analysis. Jacobi (AR7) I , 222 F.Supp.3d at 1171-75, 1176-79. The court remanded the Final Results for Commerce to provide a reasoned explanation as to why the range of GNI data reflected on OPs list demonstrates economic comparability to the PRC, including why the Philippines GNI does not. Id. at 1179 (citation omitted).
A. Commerces Redetermination
On remand, Commerce explained its formulation of the GNI range generally, and in this proceeding specifically. See Remand Results at 3-15. Commerces long-standing practice is to use per capita gross national income (GNI) data reported in the World Banks annual World Development Report as the indicator of each countrys economic development. Id. at 3 (citations omitted). Although the statute only requires Commerce to seek a surrogate market economy country whose economic development is comparable to the subject nonmarket economy (NME), when possible, the agency selects a surrogate country at the same level of economic development as the NME country. Id. at 4. Commerce considers those countries that occupy a relatively narrow per capita GNI range that is centered on the per capita GNI of the NME country to have attained the same level of economic development. Id.
Commerce likens per capita GNI ranges to a flight of stairs. Id. at 5. [E]ach (flat) step ... is associated with a [relatively narrow] range of per capita GNI, whereas the staircase itself ... is associated with a relatively broad range of per capita GNI. Id. The staircase metaphor demonstrates that
(a) the level of economic development increases with per capita GNI if the difference or jump in per capita GNI is big enough to take one from step to step, and (b) different countries can be at the same level of economic development, even if their per capita GNIs differ, so long as those differences are small enough that one stays on the same step.
Id. Commerce defines each step for each subject NME country using a relatively narrow range of per capita GNI [that is] centered on the country at issue. Id. at 6.
The annual release of the World Development Report triggers Commerces reconsideration of the surrogate countries on OPs list. Id. at 10. Commerce first examines the per capita GNI data for the PRC and the change in per capita GNI from the year before, and compares the change in the PRCs per capita GNI to the respective changes in the per capita GNIs of the existing set of surrogate countries, and determine[s] whether it is necessary to re-center the GNI range in light of the year-to-year GNI changes. Id. Because of the PRCs rapid GNI growth rate, Commerce usually must re-center the list. Remand Results at 10. From 2009 to 2013, the PRCs per capita GNI grew from $3,590 to $6,560, an 82% increase. Id. at 10-11 (citations omitted). Commerce subsequently reevaluated the GNI range and expanded it at roughly the same rate. Id. at 10.
Commerce does not explicitly state how OP determines the precise per capita GNI range associated with each step that it uses to formulate its list. See id. at 12-13 (simply noting that once it has preliminarily determined the per capita GNI range, Commerce searches for suitable countries to include on the list). Commerce notes that the GNI range associated with each step or level generally increases as economic development increases. Id. at 11; see also id. at 12 (noting that the World Banks general premise of more expansive income ranges for higher per capita income is informative to [Commerces] analysis). However, Commerce does explain that, pursuant to judicial precedent, it attempts to balance the list by including three countries above and below the PRCs per capita GNI, for a total of six countries. Remand Results at 13; see also id. at 9-10 & n.30 (citing Dorbest Ltd. v. United States , 35 CIT ----, ----, 755 F.Supp.2d 1291, 1297-98 & n.17 (2011) (faulting Commerce for establishing a per capita GNI range that only included countries with incomes below Chinas to determine economic comparability) ). Commerce may rebalance the list when a country changes from having a per capita GNI higher than the PRCs to one that is lower, and vice versa. Remand Results at 13. When a surrogate countrys per capita GNI tracks Chinas per capita GNI, and is actively used-and advocated for by interested parties[,] ... there is a strong inclination to continue relying on them provided that countrys per capita GNI remains within the selected range. Id. Countries that are not selected as surrogate countries are reevaluated and may be replaced on the list. Id. When considering new countries to add to the list, Commerce considers the surrogate value requirements for the subject merchandise, data quality and availability, the economic diversity of the manufacturing sector, and the specificity of the import data relied on to value the [factors of production]. Id. at 14.
The list is non-exhaustive, and is intended to provide interested parties with a manageable set of potential surrogate countries to focus on. Id. at 14, 15. When an interested party proposes an alternative country with a per capita GNI within the range of countries on the list, Commerce affords that country the same consideration as others on the list. Id. at 14. When an interested party proposes a country with a per capita GNI outside the selected range, Commerce will consider the country only if its data quality and availability, and significant producer status, outweigh its deficient economic comparability, id. at 14-15, and only when none of the countries at the same level of economic development (i.e., within Commerces per capita GNI range) present viable surrogate country options, id. at 7-8.
As to the Philippines economic proximity to China, Commerce explains that, from 2009 to 2013, the absolute difference between the PRC[s] per capita GNI and the Philippines[] per capita GNI grew from $1,800 to $3,290. Id. at 16 & n. 45 (citations omitted). Thus, it was only a matter of time before the PRC-regardless of whatever bright line or range is used to define a level of economic development ...-would eventually move into a level of economic development different than that of the Philippines. Id. at 16. Because of the growing difference between the two countries per capita GNI, there were more market economy countries falling between the per capita GNIs of the Philippines and China. Id. at 16. Stated differently,
[f]rom 2000 to 2013, the PRCs GNI per capita [had] grown 605 percent, or an average of 16 percent a year, while the Philippines [had] grown 166 percent, or an average of 8 percent per year. As the per capita GNI of the PRC has increased and outpaced that of the Philippines, which steadily fell behind in terms of GNI, [Commerce] has sought other countries to fill the void left by the Philippines.
Id. at 31 & n.108 (citations omitted). In this segment of the proceeding, OP identified three other countries with per capita GNIs lower than Chinas, but higher than the Philippines, to include on the list. Id. at 16. Those countries were likely to have good data availability and quality, i.e., the specificity of these countries data are more likely to assist the team in its valuation of the inputs. Id. at 17 & n.46 (quoting Req. for Surrogate Country and Surrogate Value Comments and Information (July 25, 2014), Attach. 1 at 2), RJA Tab 1, PR 64, ECF No. 114.
Because Commerce identified a country on the list (Thailand) that it determined was a significant producer of comparable merchandise, and had good data availability and quality, Commerce affirmed its prior opinion that the Philippines is not an appropriate surrogate country for purposes of [AR7]. Remand Results at 17-18.
B. Commerces Redetermination as to Economic Comparability is Sustained
Section 1677b(c)(4)(A) does not define the phrase economic comparability
or require a particular methodology to determine which countries are economically comparable to the nonmarket economy country in question. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(c)(4) ; Jiaxing Brother Fastener Co., Ltd. v. United States , 38 CIT ----, ----, 961 F.Supp.2d 1323, 1328 (2014), affd 822 F.3d 1289. Thus, Commerce may perform its duties in the way it believes most suitable, provided its determinations are supported by reasoned analysis and substantial evidence. Jiaxing Brother , 822 F.3d at 1298 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). With respect to economic comparability, Commerces Remand Results meet those requirements. As detailed above, Commerce has complied with the courts instruction to better explain why its GNI range reflects economic comparability to the PRC, including why the Philippines GNI does not. See Jacobi (AR7) I , 222 F.Supp.3d at 1179 ; Remand Results at 3-18. Commerces decision to exclude the Philippines from the list of countries is supported by substantial evidence demonstrating the widening disparity between the two countries level of economic development. See Remand Results at 16 & n.45; id. at 31 & n.108. Plaintiffs contrary arguments are unavailing.
Jacobi first contends that Commerce unreasonably determined that the Philippines was not at the same level of economic development on the basis of its arbitrarily narrow GNI range. Jacobi Oppn Cmts at 3. According to Jacobi, Commerce did not expand the GNI range as Chinas per capita GNI increased, but actually narrowed the range for 2013. Id. at 4-5. Specifically, between 2011 and 2013, Jacobi asserts, Commerce narrowed the spread between Chinas per capita GNI and the lowest per capita GNI on the surrogate list from 55.3 percent to 39.6 percent. Id. at 5 (citing Remand Results at 10-11, Table 1).
The Remand Results show that as Chinas per capita GNI increased from 2009 to 2013, Commerce increased the total per capita GNI range in U.S. dollar terms from $3,980 to $5,100. Remand Results at 10-11, Table 1. Commerces expansion of its GNI range need not exactly mirror Chinas economic growth; mathematical precision is not required. Cf. Dorbest , 755 F.Supp.2d at 1298 (Commerce does not have to achieve mathematical perfection in its choice of countries to act as bookends for its initial selection [of the GNI range].). Rather, as Chinas per capita GNI increases, countries occupying a broader range of per capita GNIs may generally be considered to be at the same level of economic development, and the increased range reflects that principle. See Remand Results at 11-12.
Jacobi also contends that Commerces determination that the Philippines is not at the same level of economic development as the PRC is factually incorrect, because the Philippines was as economically comparable to China in 2013 as in previous years when Commerce found the Philippines to be at the same level of economic development. Jacobi Oppn Cmts at 6 (emphasis omitted). Jacobi made a similar argument in the proceedings before remand, see Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 14-15, to which the Government responded that it is not required ... to use the same surrogate country that it used in previous reviews, and it selects the primary surrogate country for each segment of a proceeding based on the record of that particular segment, Gov. Rule 56.2 Resp. at 29.
In Jacobi (AR7) I , the court explained that
[the Government] is correct that nothing in the statute requires it to consider any particular country as a surrogate country. [E]ach administrative review is a separate exercise of Commerces authority that allows for different conclusions based on different facts in the record. Accordingly, the validity of Commerces decision to exclude the Philippines from its list of potential surrogate countries for AR7 depends on the validity of Commerces compilation of the list generally.
222 F.Supp.3d at 1176-77 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). As discussed above, Commerces compilation of the list is reasonably based on its examination of annual changes to Chinas per capita GNI and re-centering of the list based on Chinas rapid economic expansion. See Remand Results at 10. Contrary to Jacobis contention, see Jacobi Oppn Cmts at 7, Commerces explanation that the GNI range for a particular economic step increases with higher levels of economic development is not inconsistent with Commerces exclusion of the Philippines because, as this court has recognized, Commerce properly may narrow a list of countries within a band for purposes of administrative feasibility, Juangcheng Kangtai Chem. Co., Ltd. v. United States , Slip Op. 15-93, 2015 WL 4999476, at *7-8 (CIT Aug. 21, 2015) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Remand Results at 10. Commerces decision to limit OPs list of potential surrogates to six countries represents precisely the type of discretion left within the agencys domain. Baoding Yude Chem. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. United States , 25 CIT 1118, 1126, 170 F.Supp.2d 1335, 1343 (2001) (Commerces statutory obligation to select the best information available, for which [t]here are no set rules, provides Commerce with the discretion to make certain determinations based on the record before it, provided those determinations are supported by substantial evidence); see also Remand Results at 15 (explaining that OPs list is intended to initiate a process whereby parties can focus their attention on a manageable set of potential surrogate countries) (emphasis added). Commerces decision to exclude the Philippines is supported by substantial evidence demonstrating the widening gap between its per capita GNI and Chinas, and the apparent availability of other suitable countries. See Remand Results at 16 & n.45, 17 & n.46, and 31 & n.108 (citations omitted). That Jacobi may draw a different conclusion from the evidence does not mean that Commerces decision is not supported by substantial evidence. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. United States, 750 F.2d 927, 933 (Fed. Cir. 1984).
Finally, CATC contends that Commerce has not provided a predictable or reasonable method of assessing economic comparability. CATC Oppn Cmts at 1. CATC points to the difference between Chinas percentage change in per capita GNI and the percentage change in the GNI band from 2009 to 2013 to support its argument that Commerce has not expanded the GNI range at roughly the same rate as Chinas increase. CATC Oppn Cmts at 2. To be sure, the percentage change in the GNI band differs from the percentage change in Chinas per capita GNI. See Remand Results at 10-11, Table 1 (showing that, from 2009 to 2013, Chinas per capita GNI increased 82 percent, whereas the GNI range increased 28 percent). As discussed above, however, the expansion of the GNI range need not exactly match Chinas increasing per capita GNI for Commerces development of the surrogate country list to be reasonable. Moreover, it would be inappropriate for this court to impose that type of bright-line requirement. As the Government notes, [t]he GNI data on which the surrogate country list is based is a fluid measurement that can change from year to year. Gov. Supp. Cmts at 13.
In sum, Commerce has provided a reasoned explanation of how it generated the surrogate country list, including why it considers those countries on the list to be at the same level of economic development as the PRC, and why the Philippines is not, which explanation is supported by substantial evidence.
III. Significant Producer of Comparable Merchandise
In briefing its original Rule 56.2 motion, Jacobi argued that, during the period of review, the Philippines was the largest producer of activated carbon, Thailand was not a significant producer, and Commerce had impermissibly found that any country with non-zero production was a significant producer. Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 18-19, 21. CATC argued that Commerce had impermissibly found that countries with any amount of exports of activated carbon are presumed to be equally significant producers. CATC Rule 56.2 Mem. at 6.
In the Issues and Decision Memorandum, Commerce had identified Thailand as a significant producer on the basis of its total export quantities. I & D Mem. at 7. Commerce explained that it prefer[s] to consider quantity, rather than value, in determining whether a country is a significant producer because the fact that a country is not a net exporter of a particular product, in value terms, does not necessarily mean that the country is not a significant producer of that good, given that the country could import more higher-valued products than it exports. Id. (emphasis added). The court found several faults with Commerces reasoning:
First, Commerce does not explain whether Thailand actually imports more higher-valued goods than it exports. Second, Commerce relied on Thailands total exports-not net exports-to find that it is a significant producer. Thus, Commerces rationale for disfavoring net value as a measure of significant production does little to support (or explain) its preference for considering total export quantities. Finally, Commerces reasoning fails to persuade that reliance on total exports, devoid of evidence of influence on world trade, is a permissible method of interpreting the term significant producer, and, thus, identifying significant producer countries.
Jacobi (AR7) I , 222 F.Supp.3d at 1181 (citing Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc. , 467 U.S. 837, 843, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 81 L.Ed.2d 694 (1984) ; Fresh Garlic Prod. Assn v. United States, 39 CIT ----, ----, 121 F.Supp.3d 1313, 1338-39 (2015) ). The court also rejected the Governments post hoc argument that Thailands ranking on a list of activated carbon-exporting countries demonstrated significant production absent evidence of the significance of that ranking in terms of its effect on global trade. Id. at 1181-82.
A. Commerces Redetermination
On remand, Commerce changed its basis for finding Thailand to be a significant producer of comparable merchandise. Commerce now relies on financial statements as providing evidence of domestic Thai production of comparable merchandise and Thailands status as a net exporter (in quantity terms) of the subject merchandise. Remand Results at 20-24.
Commerce first points to financial statements from two Thai manufacturers of activated carbon, C. Gigantic Carbon Co., Ltd. (Gigantic) and Carbokarn Co., Ltd. (Carbokarn) as evidence of significant production of comparable merchandise in Thailand and which, according to Commerce, in and of itself, establishes that Thailand is a significant producer. Remand Results at 20-21 & nn. 63-65. Commerce separately notes that record evidence indicates that Carbokarn is the biggest manufacturer of coconut shell based activated carbon in the world market. Remand Results at 37 & n.125 (quoting DJAC 2nd Surrogate Value Cmts, Ex. 8) (responding to arguments that Carbokarns reported sales include non-comparable merchandise).
Commerce next explains that it may rely on other criteria in lieu of evidence of domestic production, such as net exports of comparable merchandise. Id. at 21 & nn.66-67 (citing Policy Bulletin 04.1). In 2013 and 2014, Thailand had net exports of activated carbon in the amount of 2,035,309 kilograms. Id. at 21-22 & nn.70-71 (citing DJAC Surrogate Country Cmts). According to Commerce, Thailands net exports (in quantity terms) represent further evidence that Thailand is a significant producer of comparable merchandise. See id. at 22.
B. Commerces Redetermination as to Significant Production is Remanded
Neither the statute nor Commerces regulations define significant producer. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677b ; 19 C.F.R. § 351.408 ; Policy Bulletin 04.1 at 3. Because the term is undefined and ambiguous, the court must assess whether Commerces interpretation of significant producer is based on a permissible construction of the statute. Chevron, 467 U.S. at 843, 104 S.Ct. 2778 ; Apex Frozen Foods Private Ltd. v. United States , 862 F.3d 1337, 1344 (Fed. Cir. 2017). Commerces explanation on remand suggests two measures of significant production: (1) domestic production of identical merchandise; and (2) net exports (by quantity).
Jacobi and CATC each challenge Commerces reliance on evidence of domestic production as a measure of significant production. See Jacobi Oppn Cmts at 13-16; CATC Oppn Cmts at 5-6. CATC also contends that Commerce has not demonstrated that its reliance on Thailands net exports is a reasonable interpretation of significant producer. See CATC Oppn Cmts at 5 ([T]he fact that Thailand has some production (whether measuring by exports or the unknown financial statement quantity) does not make it a significant producer merely because [Commerce] says it is significant .... [Commerce] may be given a measure of discretion in determining the definition of significant producer, but [its] definition must be reasonable.).
As discussed more fully below, each of Commerces bases suffer from the same flaw: a lack of reasoning as to why the chosen measures and particular amounts of domestic production or net exports represent significant production. Without some basis for reviewing Commerces conclusions, the court is unable to ensure that the agencys interpretation is not arbitrary, capricious, or manifestly contrary to statute. Apex Frozen Foods , 862 F.3d at 1346 (citation omitted); see also NMB Singapore Ltd. v. United States, 557 F.3d 1316, 1319 (Fed. Cir. 2009) (Commerce must explain the basis for its decisions; while its explanations do not have to be perfect, the path of Commerces decision must be reasonably discernable to a reviewing court.) (citations omitted). Cf. Policy Bulletin 04.1 at 3 (although fixed standards ... have not been adopted, the significant producer determination should be made consistent with the characteristics of world production of, and trade in, comparable merchandise (subject to the availability of data on these characteristics).).
Domestic Production
Commerce seeks to ground its determination that domestic production, evidenced by financial statements, constitutes significant production in agency and judicial precedent; to wit , Commerce explains that it
has [ ] previously stated that, if comparable merchandise is produced, a country qualifies as a producer of comparable merchandise. Therefore, if the record contains evidence of domestic production of comparable merchandise, then this evidence directly addresses the requirement of significant production of comparable merchandise under [ 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(c)(4) ]. Such evidence may include the financial statements of a commercial producer of comparable merchandise in the surrogate country.
Remand Results at 20 & nn. 61-62 (citing Sebacic Acid from the Peoples Republic of China , 62 Fed. Reg. 65,674, 65,676 (Dept Commerce Dec. 15, 1997) (final results of antidumping admin. review; 1995-1996) (Sebacic Acid ); Dorbest Ltd. v. United States , 30 CIT 1671, 1683-84, 462 F.Supp.2d 1262, 1274 (2006) (upholding the Departments selection of India as a significant producer using the financial statements of Indian companies). Commerce then identifies the Carbokarn and Gigantic financial statements as evidence of significant production, see Remand Results at 20-21, but that finding does not follow from its explanation of legal precedent.
Sebacic Acid is an example of Commerce exercising broad discretion to determine what constitutes comparable merchandise for purposes of selecting its primary surrogate country. See 62 Fed. Reg. at 65,676. While evidence of domestic production of comparable merchandise may directly address [ ] the requirement of significant production, Remand Results at 20 (emphasis added), nothing in Commerces Sebacic Acid ruling suggests that it fulfills the requirement without more. Commerces Dorbest citation is also unavailing. Therein, the court affirmed Commerces finding that India is a significant producer of merchandise comparable to wooden bedroom furniture (the subject merchandise) on the basis of evidence that included nine Indian surrogate financial statements in addition to directories of hundreds of Indian furniture producers and information on the value of Indian furniture output. See Dorbest , 30 CIT at 1683, 462 F.Supp.2d at 1274. Thus, Dorbest does not support Commerces determination that evidence of domestic production in the form of financial statements, in and of itself, establishes that Thailand is a significant producer. See Remand Results at 21.
Additionally, Commerces reference to the Thai Baht value of Gigantics and Carbokarns respective sales does not save its determination. Read in context, Commerces citation to Gigantics and Carbokarns respective sales appears solely to demonstrate the fact of domestic production. See Remand Results at 21 n.65; id. at 24 n.83. Commerce does not explain whether, or why, Gigantics and Carbokarns sales are significant, and has, therefore, failed to articulate a rational connection between the facts found and the choice made. Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Assn v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. , 463 U.S. 29, 43, 103 S.Ct. 2856, 77 L.Ed.2d 443 (1983) (quoting Burlington Truck Lines v. United States , 371 U.S. 156, 168, 83 S.Ct. 239, 9 L.Ed.2d 207 (1962) ). This omission is important because reliance on evidence of domestic production, without explaining its significance, reads the word significant out of the statute. It is well settled that a statute must, if possible, be construed in such a fashion that every word has some operative effect. United States v. Nordic Village Inc. , 503 U.S. 30, 36, 112 S.Ct. 1011, 117 L.Ed.2d 181 (1992). Commerces discretion to interpret the terms of the antidumping dumping statute does not include the discretion to interpret them out of existence. Hussey Copper, Ltd. v. United States , 19 CIT 1081, 1084, 895 F.Supp. 311, 314 (quoting Smith-Corona Group v. United States , 713 F.2d 1568, 1571 (Fed. Cir. 1983).
Finally, the Governments attempt to rely on Commerces passing reference to Carbokarns status as one of the largest manufacturers of coconut shell based activated carbon in the world market is unpersuasive. Gov. Supp. Cmts at 18 (citing, inter alia , Remand Results at 37). Most importantly, Commerce did not rely on Carbokarns status, see Remand Results at 18-24, and the court may only sustain the agencys decision on the same basis articulated in the order by the agency itself, Burlington Truck Lines , 371 U.S. at 168-69, 83 S.Ct. 239. Rather, Commerce referenced Carbokarns status in its response to Jacobis contention that Carbokarns 2013 sales include chemical products, i.e., non-comparable merchandise. Remand Results at 37 (internal citation omitted). Accordingly, record evidence of domestic production in the form of financial statements, absent any discussion of its significance, fails to adequately substantiate Commerces finding that Thailand is a significant producer.
Net Exports
Commerce points to agency policy, legislative history, and judicial precedent to support its consideration of net exports as a measure of significant production. Remand Results at 21 & nn.67-69 (citing Policy Bulletin 04.1; Conference Report to the 1988 Omnibus Trade & Competitiveness Act , H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 576, 590, 100th Cong. 2nd Sess. (1988), reprinted in 134 Cong. Rec. H2031 (daily ed. April 20, 1988); Calgon Carbon Corp. v. United States , 40 CIT ----, ----, 190 F.Supp.3d 1224, 1243, n.25 (2016) ). However, Commerce offers little explanation for its interpretation.
Commerces Policy Bulletin 04.1 does explain that when sufficient data from major producing countries is unavailable, significant producer could mean a country that is a net exporter. Policy Bulletin 04.1 (emphasis added). This guidance, however, does not suggest that positive net exports per se satisfies the significant producer criterion.
The legislative history states that [t]he term significant producer includes any country that is a significant net exporter and, if appropriate, Commerce may use a significant net exporting country in valuing factors. H.R. CONF. REP. 100-576, 590, 1988 U.S.C.C.A.N. 1547, 1623. The legislative history does not define significant net exporter, see id. , but, in any event, Commerce does not characterize Thailand as a significant net exporter" and instead relies solely on its status as a net exporter, see Remand Results at 21, 23, 24.
In Calgon Carbon , the court noted that the legislative history [did] not purport to create an exhaustive definition of significant producer, and affirmed as reasonable Commerces interpretation of significant producer, which looked to whether the country exported comparable merchandise. 190 F.Supp.3d at 1243 n.25 (citations omitted). Yet, in Jacobi (AR7) I , the court remanded Commerces significant producer determination, in part, because the agency had fail[ed] to persuade that reliance on total exports, devoid of evidence of influence on world trade, is a permissible method of interpreting the term significant producer. 222 F.Supp.3d at 1181 (citing Chevron , 467 U.S. at 843, 104 S.Ct. 2778 ; Fresh Garlic , 121 F.Supp.3d at 1338-39 ); cf. Shandong Rongxin Imp. & Exp. Co. v. United States , 35 CIT ----, ----, 774 F.Supp.2d 1307, 1315-16 (2011) (rejecting Commerces interpretation of significant producer as any subject merchandise-exporting country because the agency relied on speculation to link exports to substantial production). Commerces citation to Calgon Carbon is, therefore, unpersuasive, and irrelevant to its decision to rely on net exports here.
In sum, the court does not hold that the current record does not support a permissible interpretation of significant producer on the basis of net exports. But it is not for the court to infer Commerces reasons for so finding when they are absent-and, thus, not reasonably discernable-from the determination itself. See NMB Singapore Ltd ., 557 F.3d at 1319-20 ; Borusan Mannesmann Boru Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. v. United States , 41 CIT ----, ----, 222 F.Supp.3d 1255, 1267 (2017) (An agencys determination [ ] cannot be sustained on the basis of a rationale supplied after the fact-whether by the agencys litigation counsel, by another party, or by the court .) (emphasis added) (citations omitted).
Accordingly, the court is remanding Commerces significant producer determination for further explanation or reconsideration. In the event Commerce continues to rely on evidence of domestic production or net exports, it must explain why, with substantial supporting evidence, those metrics constitute a permissible interpretation of significant producer.
IV. Surrogate Value Selections
A. Financial Ratios
In the underlying proceeding, Commerce had before it several options for valuing financial ratios: (1) 2013 financial statements from Indonesia and the Philippines; (2) Carbokarns financial statements for the years 2010, 2011, and 2013; and (3) Gigantics 2013 financial statement. I & D Mem. at 12. For the Preliminary Results , Commerce had relied upon Carbokarns 2010 financial statement. See Decision Mem. for the Prelim. Results of Antidumping Duty Admin. Review: Certain Activated Carbon from the Peoples Republic of China; 2013-14 (Prelim. Mem.) at 26, PJA Tab 17, PR 335, ECF No. 85-3. Thereafter, DJAC placed Carbokarns 2011 financial statement on the record. Second Surrogate Value Submission by Datong Juqiang Activated Carbon Co., Ltd. (June 2, 2015) (DJAC 2nd Surrogate Value Submission), Ex. 1, PJA Tab 27, PR 363, ECF No. 85-3. Although DJAC advocated for use of Philippine financial statements, DJAC argued in the alternative that, should Commerce continue to use Thai data, it should select Carbokarns 2011 statement because it is more contemporaneous than the companys 2010 statement. I & D Mem. at 11 (summarizing DJACs arguments).
For the Final Results , Commerce rejected the Indonesian and Philippine statements because those countries did not meet the economic comparability criterion. Id. at 12. Commerce also rejected Carbokarns 2013 statement as insufficiently detailed and Gigantics 2013 statement because it contained evidence of countervailable subsidies. Id. at 12-13. Commerce ultimately selected Carbokarns 2011 statement to value financial ratios because it was more contemporaneous with the period of review than the 2010 statement the agency had preliminarily relied upon. Id. at 13.
Jacobi contends that Carbokarns 2011 statement did not support Commerces selection of Thailand as the primary surrogate country because it contained evidence of countervailable subsidies and was not contemporaneous with the POR. Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 27-30; Pls. Reply Brief (Jacobi Rule 56.2 Reply) at 14-15, ECF No. 81; see also CATC Rule 56.2 Mem. at 7; Pls. Carbon Activated Tianjin Co., Ltd., Jilin Bright Future Chemicals Company, Ltd., Ningxia Mineral and Chemical Limited, Shanxi DMD Corporation, Shanxi Industry Technology Trading Co., Ltd., Shanxi Sincere Industrial Co., Ltd., Tancarb Activated Carbon Co., Ltd., and Tianjin Maijin Industries Co., Ltd. Reply Br. (CATC Rule 56.2 Reply) at 9, ECF No. 84. The Government and Defendant-Intervenors contend that lack of contemporaneity does not preclude its use of the Thai financial statement, and Jacobi failed to exhaust administrative remedies with respect to the argument that Carbokarns 2011 statement reflects countervailable subsidies, which also fails on the merits. Def.s Resp. to Pls. Rule 56.2 Mots. for J. Upon the Agency R. (Gov. Rule 56.2 Resp.) at 40-43, ECF No. 75; Confidential Def.-Ints. Resp. in Oppn to Consol. Pls. Mots. for J. on the Agency R. (Def.-Ints. Rule 56.2 Resp.) at 23-29, ECF No. 73. The court finds that a remand is required for Commerce to further explain or reconsider its determination that the Carbokarn 2011 statement contains no evidence of countervailable subsidies. Accordingly, the court declines to reach the issue of Carbokarns statements lack of contemporaneity.
1. Countervailable Subsidies
[T]he Court of International Trade shall, where appropriate, require the exhaustion of administrative remedies. 28 U.S.C. § 2637(d). The statute indicates a congressional intent that, absent a strong contrary reason, the court should insist that parties exhaust their remedies before the pertinent administrative agencies.
Boomerang Tube LLC v. United States , 856 F.3d 908, 912 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (citation omitted). Administrative exhaustion generally requires a party to present all arguments in its administrative case and rebuttal briefs before raising those issues before this court. See Dorbest Ltd v. United States , 604 F.3d 1363, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2010) ; 19 C.F.R. § 351.309(c)-(d). This permits the agency to address the issue in the first instance, prior to judicial review. See Boomerang Tube , 856 F.3d at 912-13 (trial court erred in declining to require exhaustion and addressing an argument in the first instance when Commerce changed its data source for calculating constructed value profit between the preliminary and final determinations pursuant to arguments presented by the respondent in its case brief, and petitioner had raised only one objection to the new methodology before the agency but subsequently raised an additional argument before the trial court); Vinh Hoan Corp. v. United States , 40 CIT ----, ----, 179 F.Supp.3d 1208, 1226 (2016) (exhaustion allows the agency to apply its expertise, rectify administrative mistakes, and compile a record adequate for judicial review-advancing the twin purposes of protecting administrative agency authority and promoting judicial efficiency) (citation omitted).
In the underlying proceeding, Jacobi asserted generally that Carbokarn benefitted from countervailable subsidies. Jacobis Case Br. for POR 7 (Jacobi Case Br.) at 18 & nn.20-21, PJA 34, PR 381, ECF No. 85-4 (citing, inter alia , Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp From Thailand , 78 Fed. Reg. 50,379 (Dept of Commerce Aug. 19, 2013) (final neg. countervailing duty determination). Jacobi then pointed to a line item in Carbokarns 2010 financial statement to confirm[ ] the basis for suspicion that Carbokarn benefited from [a] Thai export subsidy. Id. at 18-19. Jacobi did not address specifically the issue of subsidies in Carbokarns 2011 statement in its case or rebuttal briefs even though it was on notice that Commerce may rely on the 2011 statement due to its placement on the record and DJACs alternative argument for Commerces use of that statement. See id. at 18-19; Jacobis Rebuttal Br. for POR 7 (Jacobi Rebuttal Br.), PJA Tab 36, CJA Tab 6, PR 392, CR 354, ECF No. 85-4; Boomerang Tube , 856 F.3d at 913.
Nevertheless, this is not a situation when the purposes of exhaustion would be served by a finding that Jacobi has waived its subsidy-related argument with respect to the 2011 financial statement. The determinative question [regarding administrative exhaustion] is whether Commerce was put on notice of the issue .... Trust Chem Co. Ltd. v. United States , 35 CIT ----, ----, 791 F.Supp.2d 1257, 1268 & n.27 (2011). Commerce appeared to understand Jacobis argument as pertaining to all of Carbokarns statements. See I & D Mem. at 9 (referring to Jacobis argument that Carbokarns financial statement s contain evidence of countervailable subsidies) (emphasis added). More importantly, Commerce reviewed Carbokarns 2011 financial statement for evidence of countervailable subsidies, and made a negative determination thereto. See id. Accordingly, the court would not be resolving this issue before the agency has had the opportunity to apply its expertise. See Vinh Hoan Corp. , 179 F.Supp.3d at 1226. Cf. Weishan Hongda Aquatic Food Co., Ltd. v. United States , 41 CIT ----, ----, 273 F.Supp.3d 1279, 1287-88 (2017) (addressing only those objections to the use of certain financial data that Commerce had notice of and an opportunity to address, and declining to address arguments that had not been presented to the agency).
As to the merits of Commerces determination, the agency has discretion to avoid using prices if it has determined that subsidization occurred with respect to those price or cost values. I & D Mem. at 9 & n.30 (citation omitted); see also 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(c)(5)(2015) (affording Commerce discretion to reject surrogate values without further investigation if [it] has determined that broadly available export subsidies existed or particular instances of subsidization occurred with respect to those [surrogate values]). Cf. DuPont Teijin Films v. United States , 37 CIT ----, ----, 896 F.Supp.2d 1302, 1311-12 (2013) (sustaining Commerces decision to reject financial statements when specific line items reflected receipt of countervailable subsidies). However, [t]he Supreme Court has frequently reiterated that an agency must cogently explain why it has exercised its discretion in a given manner .... Allied Pac. Food (Dalian) Co. Ltd. v. United States , 30 CIT 736, 758, 435 F.Supp.2d 1295, 1314 (2006) (quoting Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Assn , 463 U.S. at 48, 103 S.Ct. 2856 ). Commerce has not done so here.
In the Issues and Decision Memorandum, Commerce explained that it it is our practice not to reject financial statements based on the grounds that the company received export subsidies unless we have previously found the specific export subsidy program to be countervailable, and asserted that Jacobi failed to cite or identify any specific subsidy program related to the financial statements which the [agency] has previously found to be countervailable. I & D Mem. at 9 & nn.32-33 (citations omitted). Jacobi, however, expressly pointed to Commerces Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Thailand determination, wherein Commerce found that the receipt of tax coupons is ... countervailable. See Issues and Decision Mem., C-549-828 (Aug. 12, 2013), accompanying Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Thailand ( Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Thailand , I & D Mem.) at 6; Jacobi Case Br. at 18 & n.21. Moreover, Carbokarns 2011 statement reflected an amount for Tax coupon receivables. DJAC 2nd Surrogate Value Submission, Ex. 1. Commerces conclusory assertion that Carbokarns 2011 statement contain[s] no evidence of countervailable subsidies fails to apprise the court of the agencys reasons for concluding that Carbokarns entry for [t]ax coupon receivables bears no relation to the tax coupon program Commerce determined to be countervailable in Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Thailand . See NMB Singapore Ltd. , 557 F.3d at 1319. The court is, therefore, unable to ascertain whether Commerce reasonably exercised its discretion in this area. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(c)(5)(2015) ;
Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Assn , 463 U.S. at 48, 103 S.Ct. 2856.
Defendant-Intervenors assertion that the tax coupon program countervailed in Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Thailand is specific to the shrimp industry lacks merit. See Def.-Ints. Rule 56.2 Resp. at 26. Nothing in Commerces determination suggests that the tax coupon program is industry-specific. See Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Thailand , I & D Mem. at 6-7. Accordingly, Commerces determination to rely on Carbokarns 2011 financial statement to value financial ratios is remanded for reconsideration and further explanation as to whether the financial statement reflects the receipt of countervailable subsidies or otherwise provides suitable surrogate financial data.
2. Contemporaneity
Jacobi asserts that Commerces reliance on the 2011 Carbokarn financial statement lacks substantial evidence because the record contained POR-contemporaneous Philippine financial statements. Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 30. Commerce declined to consider those statements because the Philippines had failed to satisfy the economic comparability criterion and because it found that it had complete, audited, publicly available, and otherwise suitable data from the primary surrogate country. See I & D Mem. at 12-13 (emphasis added); see also id. at 12 & n.43 (reiterating Commerces practice of using data from a secondary surrogate country only when data from the primary surrogate country are unavailable or unreliable) (citation omitted). As discussed above, the suitability of the 2011 Carbokarn statement remains an open question due to the potential presence of countervailable subsidies and Thailands unresolved status as a significant producer. Accordingly, the court cannot assess whether Commerce reasonably selected the Thai statement notwithstanding its lack of POR-contemporaneity and disregarded contemporaneous statements from a less economically comparable country. On remand, Commerce may choose to reevaluate the relative merits of each proposed source of financial ratios.
B. Carbonized Material
Commerce was presented with five possible surrogate values to value Jacobis carbonized material:
(1) GTA data for Thai HS 4402.90.10000 of Coconut Shell; (2) GTA data for Thai HS 4402.90.90090 Wood Charcoal (Including Shell Or Nut Charcoal), Excluding That Of Bamboo: Other; (3) Cocommunity coconut shell charcoal price data from the Philippines; (4) Cocommunity coconut shell charcoal price data from Indonesia; [and] (5) GTA data for Indonesian HS 4402.90.9000.
I & D Mem. at 25. Commerce disregarded Philippine and Indonesian data because it was not from the primary surrogate country or a country at the same level of economic development as China, and Commerce believed it had useable data from the primary surrogate country. Id. Commerce also disregarded Thai GTA data for wood charcoal because Jacobi does not use wood-based charcoal in the production of activated carbon. Id. Commerce, therefore, selected Thai HS 4402.90.10000 to value carbonized material because it was more specific to Jacobis input. Id. at 25-26. Commerce declined to examine the Thai import value for possible aberrancy on the basis that parties had not supplied appropriate benchmark data. Id. at 26-27.
Jacobi contends that Commerce should have compared the Thai and Philippine data to select the surrogate value that yields the most accurate dumping margin. Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 32-33; Jacobi Rule 56.2 Reply at 16-17. Jacobi further contends that Commerces surrogate value selection was unreasonable because it was contrary to the agencys past reliance on Philippine Cocommunity data, and the Thai value is unreliable and aberrantly high. Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 34-44; Jacobi Rule 56.2 Reply at 15-16, 19-22; see also CATC Rule 56.2 Mem. at 8-9, 17-18. CATC echoes Jacobis concerns about the unreliability of Thai import data on the basis that Thai customs officials increase the entered values of imported goods. CATC Rule 56.2 Mem. at 10-18; CATC Rule 56.2 Reply at 11-12. The Government contends that Commerce need not consider Philippine surrogate value data unless parties demonstrate the lack of suitable data from economically comparable countries, and the Thai data is not aberrant or unreliable. Gov. Rule 56.2 Resp. at 46-53. Defendant-Intervenors contend that Thai import data was the best available information to value carbonized material, and Jacobis arguments regarding use of Philippine data impermissibly invite the court to reweigh the evidence. Def.-Ints. Rule 56.2 Resp. at 35-44.
As an initial matter, each administrative review is a separate exercise of Commerces authority that allows for different conclusions based on different facts in the record. Jiaxing Brother , 822 F.3d at 1299 (quoting Qingdao Sea-Line Trading Co. Ltd. v. United States , 766 F.3d 1378, 1387 (Fed. Cir. 2014) ). Thus, Commerces previous reliance on Philippine Cocommunity data to value carbonized material, without more, does not undermine Commerces selection of Thai data in this segment of the proceeding. Unlike in prior reviews, here, Commerce no longer considers the Philippines to be at the same level of economic development as the PRC. See, e.g. , Remand Results at 15-18. Accordingly, this is not a situation where Commerce has failed to articulate reasons for treating similar situations in a dissimilar manner. See, e.g. , SKF USA Inc. v. United States , 263 F.3d 1369, 1382 (Fed. Cir. 2001) ([A]n agency action is arbitrary when the agency offer[s] insufficient reasons for treating similar situations differently.) (first alteration added) (citation omitted).
As to the reliability of the Thai value, Jacobi points to several annual reports by the U.S. Trade Representative expressing its concerns regarding the significant discretionary authority exercised by [Thai] Customs Department officials ... to arbitrarily increase the customs values of imports. Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 40 (citation omitted); see also CATC Rule 56.2 Mem. at 10-11. CATC points to the FedEx Country Report on Thailand stating that Thai Customs keeps records of the highest declared price of [imported] products, which will be used to determine the customs value instead of the transaction value, and to Commerces own statements regarding concerns of U.S. companies and government officials regarding Thai Customs practices. CATC Rule 56.2 Mem. at 12-13 (citations omitted). At the administrative level, Commerce responded to these arguments saying that although the reports speak to the general state of Thai customs practice, [CATC] has pointed to no evidence on the record which demonstrates that the specific [surrogate values] relied on ... are the result of the alleged Thai Customs practices. I & D Mem. at 8.
The court has addressed challenges to Commerces selection of Thai import data in several other cases. Although each recognized the relevance of the reports to the reliability of Thai import values, none remanded Commerces surrogate value or surrogate country determination on the basis of the reports. See Elkay Mfg. Co. v. United States , 40 CIT ----, ----, 180 F.Supp.3d 1245, 1254-55 (2016), affd sub nom. Guangdong Dongyuan Kitchenware Indus. Co. v. Elkay Mfg. Co. , 702 Fed.Appx. 981 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (although evidence of manipulation was relevant to the question of the reliability of the Thai data, it did not establish that Thai Customs import values are affected generally, and significantly, by the [identified] practice, and, thus, did not foreclose [Commerces] use of Thai import data; Commerce reasonably weigh[ed] the superior specificity of the Thai import data ... against other factors before concluding that the Thai data were the best available information); Calgon Carbon, 190 F.Supp.3d at 1235 (the cited report is evidence of manipulation but without more, the general concerns noted in the report do not undermine Commerces surrogate value selection); Yingqing v. United States , 41 CIT ----, ----, 195 F.Supp.3d 1299, 1306-07 (2016) (following Elkay Mfg. and explaining that Thai import data were more specific to Plaintiffs reported experience than Ukrainian and Philippine data).
The U.S. Trade Representatives concerns about possible upwards manipulation of Thai customs values are relevant to the inquiry regarding the reliability and potential aberrancy of Thai import values. However, as noted in the prior opinions cited above, without more, the reports do not sufficiently detract from Commerces selection of a particular surrogate value (or Thailand as the primary surrogate country) so as to find it unsupported by substantial evidence. In contrast to those cases, however, that something more appears to exist in this case-at least so much so as to require further inquiry by Commerce than occurred here. Although the concerns expressed in the trade reports do not form the sole basis of the courts remand of this issue, they support the need for a remand for Commerce to further explain its benchmarking methodology or reconsider its refusal to use Philippine and Indonesian data to test for aberrancy in light of indications that the Thai value is unusually high.
In the underlying administrative proceeding, Jacobi argued that the Thai import value is aberrant as compared to the surrogate values used in the past six administrative reviews; particularly, the fifth and sixth administrative reviews (respectively, AR5 and AR6). Jacobi Case Br. at 48; Jacobi Rebuttal Br. at 5-6 & n.9 (citing Jacobis Rebuttal Surrogate Value Comments (Dec. 9, 2014) (Jacobi Surrogate Value Rebuttal), Ex. SVR-5, PJA Tab 11, PR 240-41 (surrogate value spreadsheets for the past six reviews) ). In response, Commerce explained that
[w]ith respect to benchmarking, the [agency] examines historical import data for the potential surrogate countries for a given case, to the extent such import data is available, and/or examines data from the same HS category for the primary surrogate country over multiple years to determine if the current data appear aberrational compared to historical values. Merely appearing on the low or high end of a range of values is not enough to make data aberrational.
I & D Mem. at 26 (footnote citations omitted). Because the record lacked Commerces preferred benchmarking data, it declined to undertake any inquiry. I & D Mem. at 26-27 (declining to consider Philippine data relied upon in past reviews or the Philippine and Indonesian data proposed in the instant review because those countries are not as economically comparable to the PRC).
Commerce is required to calculate antidumping duty margins as accurately as possible, and to use the best information available to it in doing so. Lasko Metal Prod., Inc. v. United States , 43 F.3d 1442, 1443 (Fed. Cir. 1994). To that end, [w]hen confronted with a colorable claim that the data that Commerce is considering is aberrational, Commerce must examine the data and provide a reasoned explanation as to why the data it chooses is reliable and non-distortive.
Mittal Steel Galati S.A. v. United States , 31 CIT 1121, 1135, 502 F.Supp.2d 1295, 1308 (2007) (citation omitted). The $1,146.60/MT average unit value of coconut shell charcoal imports into Thailand during the period of review and relied upon by Commerce appears to be beyond the high end of any range before Commerce for this input. See Jacobi Case Br. at 48 & n.87 (citing Second Surrogate Value Submission by Datong Juqiang Activated Carbon Co., Ltd. (March 31, 2015) (DJAC 2nd Surrogate Value Submission), Ex. 2A, PJA Tab 15, PR 322, ECF No. 85-3 (supplying the Thai import value Commerce relied upon in the instant review) ); I & D Mem. at 25 & n.96 (citing same); Jacobi Surrogate Value Rebuttal, Ex. SVR-5 (supplying the average source values for carbonized material selected in AR6 and AR5, which were, respectively, $346.25/MT and $391.67/MT). Those values are roughly consistent with the Philippine and Indonesian values placed on the record as potential surrogate values for the instant review, which were, respectively, $343/MT and $355.25/MT. Jacobis Surrogate Value Comments (Nov. 18, 2014), Ex. SV-4 at ECF p. 244, PJA Tab 9, PR 195-205, ECF No. 85-2 (supplying the Philippine POR-average price); id. at ECF pp. 279-638 (supplying Indonesian domestic prices for each POR-month, from which the average price of $355.25/MT is derived). The Thai value is, thus, more than three times the average of the Philippine values selected in AR5 and AR6 and the Philippine and Indonesian values suggested as surrogate values in AR7.
Commerce dismissed this data for benchmarking purposes on the basis that the Philippines and Indonesia are not as economically comparable to the PRC. I & D Mem. at 26-27. However, Commerces reason for disregarding the proffered benchmarks has been regularly rejected by the court. See Juancheng Kangtai , 2015 WL 4999476, at *22 (lack of economic comparability is an insufficient reason for disregarding data to test for aberrancy); CS Wind Vietnam Co., Ltd. v. United States , 38 CIT ----, ----, 971 F.Supp.2d 1271, 1280 (2014) (data from non-economically comparable countries are relevant to test for aberrancy in import values, particularly when imports into the surrogate country are from non-economically comparable countries); Xinjiamei Furniture (Zhangzhou) Co., Ltd. v. United States , Slip Op. 13-30, 2013 WL 920276, at *6 (CIT March 11, 2013) (rejecting Commerces argument that export data from non-economically comparable countries were inappropriate benchmarks; although the prices might not satisfy the requirements for surrogate values, they are sufficient to call into question the reliability of the [import] data); Peer Bearing Co.-Changshan v. United States , 35 CIT ----, ----, 752 F.Supp.2d 1353, 1372 (2011) (rejecting the Governments argument that U.S. data was unhelpful for benchmarking purposes and noting that it corroborated information from economically comparable countries that also suggested the selected value was aberrational); Clearon Corp. v. United States , Slip Op. 15-91, 2015 WL 4978995, at *7 (CIT Aug. 20, 2015) (stating that Commerce has failed to adequately explain its chosen benchmarks, and data from countries not on Commerces surrogate country list may be useful for benchmarking purposes).
Like these other cases, the court is unable to discern Commerces rationale for limiting its benchmarking inquiry to historical data from potential surrogate countries-i.e., those countries it considers presently to be at the same level of economic development as China. See I & D Mem. at 26. Commerce noted in the Remand Results that its list of potential surrogate countries is subject to annual change based on changes to Chinas per capita GNI. See Remand Results at 10. Thus, historical data from a current potential surrogate country may derive from a time when that country was not at the same level of economic development as the PRC. Commerce provides no explanation why such data, in its view, might be a useful benchmark, while historical data from a country that Commerce then considered to be at the same level of economic development as the PRC may not be considered for benchmarking purposes simply because the country is, at present, no longer at the same level of economic development.
Further, economic comparability and, thus, the usefulness of proffered benchmarks, is a matter of degree. See Calgon Carbon , 190 F.Supp.3d at 1234 (Commerce reasonably declined to use U.S. data as a benchmark when the United States GNI is almost ten times higher than Chinas); Blue Field (Sichuan), 949 F.Supp.2d at 1317 (noting that benchmarks need not derive from economically comparable countries, but may become less informative depending on the degree of economic difference between the countries). Here, Commerce dismissed benchmark data not because the countries are not economically comparable to the PRC, but because they are not as economically comparable to the PRC as the countries on OPs list. I & D Mem. at 27; see also Remand Results at 17 (noting that the Philippines is less [economically] comparable to the PRC ... relative to the six other countries on the surrogate country list) (emphasis added). Commerces conclusory dismissal of such proposed benchmark data misreads the statute, which directs Commerce to value factors of production using the best available information from countries at a level of economic development comparable to that of China, but does not prohibit Commerce from considering, for corroboration purposes, record evidence consisting of prices for a commodity in a market economy country when determining which information from countries at a level of economic development comparable to China is the best available information. Peer Bearing Co.-Changshan , 752 F.Supp.2d at 1372 (citing 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(c)(1),(4) ).
Accordingly, this issue is remanded for Commerce to reconsider or further explain its position with respect to the proposed benchmarks and, if appropriate, to reconsider its surrogate value selection in light of the proposed benchmark data. If, on remand, Commerce concludes that the Thai value is aberrational, the agency should, consistent with its practice, consider all relevant price information on the record, including any appropriate benchmark data, ... to accurately value the input in question. I & D Mem. at 26. Such relevant price information may, therefore, include data from countries not on the surrogate country list. See Mittal Steel , 31 CIT at 1135, 502 F.Supp.2d at 1308 (If the Filipino data which meets Commerces surrogate criteria nonetheless proves to be unusable, or demonstrably aberrational, Commerce should examine data sources that it has outside of those from the surrogate countries.); Policy Bulletin 04.1 (explaining that Commerces policy is to rely on data from less economically comparable countries only when none of the countries on OPs surrogate country list supply suitable data).
V. Irrecoverable VAT
A. The Final Results and Courts Review Thereof
In the Issues and Decision Memorandum, Commerce explained that
[i]n a typical VAT system, companies do not incur VAT expense for exports; they receive on export a full rebate of the VAT they pay on purchases of inputs used in the production of exports (input VAT), and, in the case of domestic sales, the company can credit the [input VAT] against the VAT they collect from customers [output VAT].
I & D Mem. at 16. In the PRC, however, some portion of the input VAT that a company pays on purchases of inputs used in the production of exports is not refunded. Id. Commerce referred to this unrefunded input VAT as irrecoverable VAT. See id. at 16-17. Commerce further explained that its adjustment for irrecoverable VAT consists of two steps: (1) determining the irrecoverable VAT on subject merchandise, and (2) reducing U.S. price by the amount determined in step one. Id. at 17. Step one consists of applying (1) the FOB [free on board] value of the exported good ... to the difference between (2) the standard VAT levy rate and (3) the VAT rebate rate applicable to exported goods. Id. The first variable, export value, is unique to each respondent while the rates in (2) and (3), as well as the formula for determining irrecoverable VAT, are each explicitly set forth in Chinese law and regulations. Id.
In step one, Commerce determined the irrecoverable VAT on subject merchandise by first determining the amount of tax levied on inputs and raw materials (used in the production of exports). Id. In other words, Commerce defined the standard VAT levy rate by way of reference to the input VAT rate. Because the PRC levied a 17 percent VAT on inputs and raw materials used in the production of activated carbon, for which there was no export rebate, Commerce concluded that the irrecoverable rate is equal to the full VAT percentage. Id. ; see also Jacobis Suppl. Sect. C Resp. (Oct. 21, 2014) (Jacobi Suppl. SCQR), Ex. SC-54, CJA Tab 2, CR 124, 133, RJA Tab 2, PR 157-58, ECF Nos. 86,114; Jacobi Suppl. SCQR, Ex. SC-55. With regard to step two, when Jacobis entered values were less than an estimated customs value, Commerce decided to apply the irrecoverable VAT rate to the estimated customs value as the best proxy for an FOB China port value. I & D Mem. at 18.
DJAC proposed, and Commerce rejected, a calculation methodology based on VAT paid on the sale of its product, not a VAT rebate on inputs. Id. at 20 & n.80 (citing Jacobi Suppl. SCQR, Ex. SC-56); see also id. at 15 (summarizing DJACs proposal). Commerce reasoned that the irrecoverable VAT adjustment does not entail deducting VAT paid on the sale of activated carbon, but rather the portion of VAT paid on inputs to produce activated carbon that is not rebated by the PRC Government.Id. at 20. DJACs proposal relied on a form of sales tax that applies when the finished goods are ineligible for a VAT rebate upon exportation and foreign sales of which are therefore treated as domestic sales. Id. at 20 & nn.82-83 (citing Jacobi Suppl. SCQR at 28-30, Ex. SC-56).
In briefing their original Rule 56.2 motions, Plaintiffs argued that Commerce lacked authority to deduct irrecoverable VAT from Jacobis CEP because it is not a statutory export tax or other charge, and Commerces method of calculating the VAT adjustment was not supported by substantial evidence. See, e.g. , Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 44-45; CATC Rule 56.2 Mem. at 18. As to Plaintiffs substantial evidence arguments, Jacobi challenged Commerces application of the VAT adjustment to an estimated customs value rather than its entered values. Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 45, 47-55. CATC challenged Commerces application of the VAT adjustment to Jacobis U.S. price, and not the lesser cost of the raw materials upon which Jacobi paid VAT. CATC Rule 56.2 Mem. at 21-22.
In Jacobi (AR7) I , the court found that the relevant statutory phrase was ambiguous and Commerce properly may adjust for irrecoverable VAT. 222 F.Supp.3d at 1186-88. The court concluded that Commerce could reasonably determine that an input VAT that is unrefunded by reason of the finished products exportation constituted, at the very least, an other charge that is imposed by the exporting country on the exportation of the subject merchandise because it remains recoverable (as a credit or offset against output VAT) until the product is exported. 222 F.Supp.3d at 1186-87 ; accord Fushun Jinly Petrochem. Carbon Co., Ltd. v. United States , Slip Op 16-25, 2016 WL 1170876, at *11 (CIT Mar. 23, 2016) ; Juancheng Kangtai Chem. Co., Ltd. v. United States , Slip Op. 17-3, 2017 WL 218910, at *12 (CIT Jan. 19, 2017) ; Aristocraft of Am., LLC v. United States , 41 CIT ----, ----, 269 F.Supp.3d 1316, 1324-25 (2017) ; but see China Mfrs. Alliance, LLC v. United States , 41 CIT ----, ----, 205 F.Supp.3d 1325, 1346 (2017) (remanding because Commerce had failed to make a specific factual finding regarding the amount of the export tax, duty, or other charge imposed by the PRC as required by statute). The court further found that Commerces determination with regard to the unreliability of Jacobis entered values and its application of the VAT adjustment to an estimated customs value was supported by substantial evidence. Jacobi (AR7) I , 222 F.Supp.3d at 1190-92. The court, however, remanded Commerces VAT calculation because it was not supported by substantial evidence. Id. at 1192-94. The court pointed to Commerces identification of the irrecoverable VAT as unrefunded VAT paid on inputs and raw materials (used in the production of exports), id. at 1193 (citing I & D Mem. at 16-17, 20), and reasoned that Commerces calculation of irrecoverable VAT on the basis of the price of the finished good potentially overstated the adjustment, id. at 1193-94.
B. Commerces Redetermination
On remand, Commerce again defined irrecoverable VAT as VAT paid on inputs used in the production of exports that is non-refundable. Remand Results at 25. It framed the issue on remand as the percentage of irrecoverable VAT included in Jacobis selling price to the United States, and clarif[ied] that the amount of [input] VAT that Jaocbi actually paid to the PRC ... is irrelevant to [its] margin calculations. Id. at 26; see also id. at 26-27 (noting that Commerce is concerned with deducting the amount of irrecoverable VAT which was actually included in the selling price of activated carbon to the United States).
To that end, Commerce stated that Chinese law requires Jacobi to pay 17 percent VAT on inputs and exempts sales of activated carbon from any VAT rebate. Id. at 27 & nn.94-95 (citations omitted). According to Commerce, however, the input VAT rate in itself ha[d] no bearing on [Commerces] margin calculation, and ... [was] not the basis for why [it] adjusted U.S. price in the margin calculation program for Jacobi. Id. at 27. Rather, Commerce now stated that it made the adjustment on the basis of the 17 percent output VAT included in Jacobis U.S. price. Id. at 27. Commerce noted that Jacobi ... reported that as a seller/exporter, the products it resells to domestic or foreign buyers are subject to 17 percent [output] VAT, which is applied to its sales and is included in the selling price to the United States. Id. at 27 & nn.96-97 (citing Jacobi Suppl. SCQR, Ex. SC-56). The 17 percent output VAT ... is included in Jacobis U.S. prices, and constitutes the 17 percent adjustment [Commerce] made to Jacobis margin calculation. Id. at 27; see also id. at 28 (noting that Commerce deducted the entire 17 percent (irrecoverable VAT) from the U.S. price to arrive at a [tax neutral] U.S. net price). Jacobi now contends that Commerce has failed to address the courts concerns. Jacobi Oppn Cmts at 18-19.
C. Commerces Redetermination as to the Irrecoverable VAT Adjustment is Remanded
For the reasons discussed below, the court is compelled to remand again the VAT adjustment to Commerce so that the agency may reconsider the record evidence and apply a methodology that is consistent both with the record evidence and with U.S. law. The Remand Results currently under review do not reasonably support the application of the methodology as it is explained by the agency.
Commerces revised explanation for its irrecoverable VAT adjustment differs in a material respect from the explanation offered in support of the Final Results . In the Issues and Decision Memorandum, Commerce explained its irrecoverable VAT calculation by way of reference to the 17 percent input VAT and the absence of an export rebate; in the Remand Results, while Commerce continued to define irrecoverable VAT in terms of the input VAT, it explained its methodology for adjusting for irrecoverable VAT by reference to, and as based upon, the 17 percent output VAT applicable to Jacobis U.S. sales. Compare I & D Mem. at 17, with Remand Results at 27-28. At oral argument, the court afforded the Government an opportunity to reconcile this inconsistency; the Government did not and the court cannot provide such a reconciliation for the agency.
The statute permits Commerce to deduct from CEP [1] the amount, if included in such price, of [2] any export tax, duty, or other charge imposed by the exporting country on the exportation of the subject merchandise to the United States. 19 U.S.C. § 1677a(c)(2)(B). Commerces redetermination relied on evidence that Jacobis U.S. price includes output VAT. See Remand Results at 27. In so doing, Commerces inconsistent explanations introduced uncertainty as to whether the adjustment is intended to account for an unrefunded input VAT imposed on exported goods that could be understood as an other charge, or instead, an output VAT collected on these exports by application of Chinese law, which could be considered an export tax under U.S. law. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677a(c)(2)(B) ; Methodological Change , 77 Fed. Reg. at 36,482 (providing for adjustments on the basis of an export tax or VAT that is not fully refunded upon exportation) (emphasis added); Jacobi (AR7) I , 222 F.Supp.3d at 1186-87. Understanding the basis for Commerces adjustment is crucial to the courts ability to review the agencys determination.
For that reason, at oral argument, the court asked the Government to clarify the statutory basis for the adjustment; in other words, to reconcile its calculation methodology with its theory underlying the irrecoverable VAT adjustment. See, e.g. , Oral Arg. at 1:57:00-2:00:14 (inquiring whether the absence of a rebate for exported activated carbon means that the adjustment accounts for a 17 percent export tax corresponding to the output VAT as opposed to irrecoverable VAT corresponding to unrefunded input VAT). The Government responded that the Methodological Change contemplates irrecoverable input and output VAT; that neither were rebated in this case; and that, therefore, both are included in Jacobis U.S. price. Oral Arg. at 2:00:15-2:02:44). The Governments response failed to reconcile the inconsistencies in the Issues and Decision Memorandum and the Remand Results or otherwise clarify Commerces determination on the basis of the facts in this particular case. The court remands Commerces redetermination for reconsideration or further explanation in accordance with this discussion. Commerce must also address the following issues on remand:
To the extent that Commerce continues to justify the adjustment as accounting for irrecoverable VAT defined as unrefunded input VAT, Commerce must address record evidence demonstrating that Jacobi, in fact, recovers the input VAT it incurs by the offset it takes before remitting the output VAT it collects. See Jacobi Suppl. SCQR, Ex. SC-54; id. , Ex. SC-58, Suppl. Conf. RJA, CR 109, 119, ECF No. 119-1. Commerce has contrasted the PRCs VAT regime with the typical VAT system, in which companies can offset input VAT against VAT collected from its customers.
See Remand Results at 25-26. The agency must, therefore, address this evidence suggesting Jacobis ability to offset input VAT against output VAT collected from foreign customers, suggesting that the input VAT is not, in fact, irrecoverable. In addition, Commerce must explain why the amount of the export tax, duty, or other charge is properly determined on the basis of the FOB price of the output (or the estimated customs value) rather than the value of the inputs (or some other approach that seeks to determine the amount of input VAT actually paid to the PRC).
On the other hand, if Commerce asserts that the adjustment is based on an export tax due to Jacobis collection of output VAT, Commerce must (a) address the record evidence regarding Jacobis offset for input VAT paid on inputs taken against the output VAT collected, and (b) explain why the VAT adjustment is properly made on the basis of an estimated customs value instead of the FOB value on which the PRC assesses it. In Jacobi (AR7) I , the court concluded that Commerces reliance on an estimated customs value was reasonable and supported by substantial evidence. 222 F.Supp.3d at 1191-92. While there may be legitimate questions about Jacobis entered values, the adjustment, by definition, relates to the amount... of any export tax, duty or other charge imposed by the PRC on the exportation of the subject merchandise, 19 USC § 1677a(c)(2)(B) (emphasis added), and Commerce, in the Methodological Change , found that it can measure a transfer of funds between [the PRC] and companies therein, regardless of the direction the money flows, and that because the taxes [are] affirmatively imposed [by China, Commerce] presume[s] that they are also collected. 77 Fed. Reg. at 36,483. Thus, if Commerce continues to disregard Jacobis FOB values, it must explain why the reliability of Jacobis entered values is pertinent when Commerce is attempting to determine the export VAT imposed by the PRC. While an artificially low FOB value might lead Chinese authorities to impose lower taxes than are otherwise appropriate, Commerce must explain its basis for taking account of any such under-collection by China in the calculation of the antidumping duty margin.
Finally, consistent with its discussion of included in the price in the Methodological Change , 77 Fed. Reg. at 36,483, Commerce must address whether it is using gross or net prices to calculate the adjustment and, in so doing, address the evidentiary support for rejecting DJACs proposed calculation methodology.
CONCLUSION
In accordance with the foregoing, it is hereby
ORDERED that Commerces Final Results are sustained with respect to the issue of economic comparability, as set forth in Discussion Section II above; it is further
ORDERED that Commerces Final Results are remanded to further address the issue of significant production, as set forth in Discussion Section III above; it is further
ORDERED that Commerces Final Results are remanded with respect to its surrogate value selections, as set forth in Discussion Section IV above; it is further
ORDERED that Commerces Final Results are remanded to further address the issue of irrecoverable VAT, as set forth in Discussion Section V above; it is further
ORDERED that, in the event Commerce amends the antidumping margin assigned to Jacobi, Commerce reconsider the separate rate assigned to non-mandatory respondents; it is further
ORDERED that Commerce shall file its second remand results on or before July 18, 2018; it is further
ORDERED that the deadlines provided in USCIT Rule 56.2(h) shall govern thereafter; and it is further
ORDERED that any opposition or supportive comments must not exceed 6,000 words.
Plaintiff-Intervenors include: Ningxia Huahui Activated Carbon Co., Ltd. (Huahui); Carbon Activated Tianjin Co., Ltd., Jilin Bright Future Chemicals Company, Ltd., Ningxia Mineral and Chemical Limited, Shanxi DMD Corporation, Shanxi Industry Technology Trading Co., Ltd., Shanxi Sincere Industrial Co., Ltd., Tancarb Activated Co., Ltd., and Tianjin Maijin Industries Co., Ltd. (collectively, CATC); and Ningxia Guanghua Cherishmet Activated Carbon Co., Ltd., Beijing Pacific Activated Carbon Products Co., Ltd., Cherishmet Inc., and Datong Municipal Yunguang Activated Carbon Co., Ltd., (collectively, Cherishmet). The court consolidated cases filed by Huahui, CATC, and Cherishmet under lead Court No. 15-286. See Order (Dec. 16, 2015), ECF No. 39. Those parties had also intervened in this case. See Order (Oct. 26, 2015), ECF No. 22; Order (Nov. 17, 2015), ECF No. 28; Order (Nov. 20, 2015), ECF No.33. Accordingly, those parties are referred to by the court as Plaintiff-Intervenors rather than Consolidated Plaintiffs.
The administrative record filed in connection with the Final Results is divided into a Public Administrative Record (PR), ECF No. 37-1, and a Confidential Administrative Record (CR), ECF No. 37-2. Parties submitted joint appendices containing all record documents cited in their Rule 56.2 briefs. See Public Joint App. (PJA), ECF Nos. 85, 85-1 to 85-4; Confidential Joint App. (CJA), ECF No. 86. The administrative record associated with the Remand Results is contained in a Public Remand Record (RR), ECF No. 106-2. Parties submitted a joint appendix containing record documents cited in their Remand briefs. See Joint App. to Parties Comments on Remand Results (RJA), ECF No. 114. Parties also submitted supplemental documents pursuant to court request. See Confidential Submission of Admin. R. Documents (Suppl. Conf. RJA), ECF No. 119; Confidential Submission of Admin. R. Evidence Discussed at Oral Arg. (2nd. Suppl. Conf. RJA), ECF No. 120.
The courts opinion in Jacobi (AR7) I presents background information on this case, familiarity with which is presumed.
All further citations to the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, are to Title 19 of the U.S. Code, and all references to the U.S. Code are to the 2012 edition, unless otherwise stated.
The factors of production include, but are not limited to: (A) hours of labor required, (B) quantities of raw materials employed, (C) amounts of energy and other utilities consumed, and (D) representative capital cost, including depreciation. 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(c)(3).
See 19 C.F.R. § 351.408(c)(2) (excepting labor). But see Antidumping Methodologies in Proceedings Involving Non-Market Economies: Valuing the Factor of Production: Labor , 76 Fed. Reg. 36,092 (Dept Commerce June 21, 2011) (expressing a preference to value labor based on industry-specific labor rates from the primary surrogate country).
Section 1677(6)(C), which concerns export taxes, duties, or other charges levied on the export of merchandise to the United States specifically intended to offset the countervailable subsidy received, is not relevant here.
For a more detailed overview of Commerces policy change with respect to NMEs, see Jacobi (AR7) I , 222 F.Supp.3d at 1184-85.
Table 1 in the Remand Results shows that, from 2009 to 2013, the per capita GNI income of the highest country on the list increased 57 percent, from $5,770 to $9,060; the per capita GNI of the lowest country on the list increased 121 percent, from $1,790 to $3,960; and the GNI range (i.e. the difference between the highest and lowest country on the list) increased 28 percent, from $3,980 to $5,100. Remand Results at 10-11, Table 1.
Commerce notes that the World Bank relies on four income groups to classify a countrys level of economic development. Remand Results at 11. Relevant here, the World Banks upper middle income group, in which the PRC is included, reflects per capita GNIs ranging from $4,126 to $12,745. Id. According to Commerce, the $5,100 per capita GNI range reflected in OPs surrogate country list is roughly consistent with the $8,619 World Bank range (i.e., $12,745 minus $4,126), indicating the reasonableness of Commerces range. Id. at 11-12. Commerce does not rely on the World Banks income groups, however, because they are not sufficiently centered on the NME countries that are subject to [the agencys antidumping] proceedings. Id. at 12.
For example, Dominica and Iraq have per capita GNIs close to that of China, but their less diversified economies render them nonviable surrogates in light of the above-mentioned considerations. Remand Results at 14.
This may occur when none of the countries on the list are significant producers of comparable merchandise or have suitable sources of surrogate value data. See Remand Results at 7.
Ukraine, with a 2013 per capita GNI of $3,960, occupied the lowest point on the list. Remand Results at 11 and 12; see also Gov. Supp. Cmts at 13 n.4 (noting that Commerce erred in identifying Indonesia instead of the Ukraine in the Remand Results as the country with the lowest per capita GNI on the list).
In other words, according to Jacobi, the difference between Chinas per capita GNI and the lowest per capita GNI on the list, expressed as a percentage of Chinas per capita GNI, decreased from 2011 to 2013. Jacobi Oppn Cmts at 5.
Jacobi points to the fact that the total GNI range decreased from $5,430 in 2011 to $5,100 in 2013. Jacobi Oppn Cmts at 5. Generally speaking, however, from 2009 to 2013, the GNI range increased as Chinas per capita GNI increased. See Remand Results at 10-11, Table 1. Jacobi also raises arguments about whether Commerce relied on absolute percentage differences from Chinas GNI or absolute value differences. Jacobi Oppn Cmts at 5-7. At oral argument on Jacobis Rule 56.2 Motion, Defendant explained that OP relied on absolute percentage differences from Chinas GNI to determine the GNI range; Ukraine, at 39.7 [percent] of Chinas GNI represented the low end of the range; and the Philippines GNI, which was less than 50 percent of Chinas GNI, thus fell outside the range. Jacobi (AR7) I , 222 F.Supp.3d at 1178 (internal quotation marks, citation, and alteration omitted). In the Remand Results, Commerce notes that the absolute percentage difference between the GNI of the PRC and the Philippines is 66.93 percent, not 50 percent, which is not within the GNI range on a percentage basis as argued by Jacobi. Remand Results at 31; see also Gov. Supp. Cmts at 12 n.3 (calculating the absolute percentage difference). Nevertheless, Commerce did not rely on the absolute percentage difference to determine the GNI range. See Remand Results at 10-15. Instead, Commerce relied on the absolute difference, i.e., the difference between Chinas and the Philippines respective per capita GNIs expressed as dollar values, to determine that the Philippines is not at the same level of economic development. See id. at 16. As with any real-world data set, the statistics cited by the Parties may be examined through multiple lenses to suggest various trends or to dispute those trends. For purposes of the courts review, the question is not whether there is a perfect alignment of every data point regardless of the lens through which it is examined, but whether the data, as a whole, reasonably support the agencys conclusion. In this case, as discussed herein, the data reasonably supports the agencys finding that the Philippines is no longer at the same level of economic development as China.
CATC also asserts that Commerces failed explanation of its GNI band ... underscores [CATCs] argument that [Commerce] has unlawfully and unreasonably considered economic comparability as the primary surrogate country factor to the exclusion of ... significant production and quality of data. CATC Oppn Cmts at 1-2. According to CATC, this treatment of economic comparability undermin[es] the plain meaning of the statute and the over-arching purpose of using the best available information. Id. at 2. This is a reformulation of CATCs argument that Commerce cannot lawfully treat economic comparability as a threshold consideration in its examination of potential surrogate countries. See CATC Rule 56.2 Mem. at 5. The court rejected that argument in Jacobi (AR7) I . See Jacobi (AR7) I , 222 F.Supp.3d at 1172 (citations omitted); see also id. at 1175 n. 14 (rejecting CATCs argument that the statutory mandate to use the best available information elevates Commerces data criterion such that it is, at a minimum, equally as critical as the economic comparability and significant production criteria as a red herring).
CATC also points the court to data spanning 2002 to 2014 and included in Commerces remand redetermination in the eighth administrative review (AR8) of this proceeding. CATC Oppn Cmts at 3 (citation omitted). Defendant-Intervenors urge the court to strike CATCs comments with instructions to re-file without the AR8 information, or to disregard them. Def-Ints. Supp. Cmts at 8 n.2.
USCIT Rule 12(f) provides that the court may strike an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter. The court has broad discretion in disposing of motions to strike. Beker Indus. Corp. v. United States , 7 CIT 199, 200, 585 F.Supp. 663, 665 (1984). Nevertheless, motions to strike are not favored by the courts and are infrequently granted. Jimlar Corp. v. United States , 10 CIT 671, 673, 647 F.Supp. 932, 934 (1986) (citation omitted).
Information submitted as part of Commerces remand redetermination in AR8 is irrelevant to the courts disposition of this action, which, by statute, turns on whether the agencys decision is supported by substantial evidence on the record of AR7, and is otherwise in accordance with law. See 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(a)(2), (b)(1)(B). Accordingly, the court will disregard CATCs contention that information submitted in AR8 supports its argument that Commerces decision in AR7 is unsustainable; however, striking those arguments is not merited. See Jimlar Corp. , 10 CIT at 673, 647 F.Supp. at 934 (granting a motion to strike is an extraordinary remedy, and should only occur when there has been a flagrant disregard of the rules of court).
Assuming the Philippines is not at the same level of economic development, Jacobi also contends that Commerce still should have considered it as a potential surrogate country because it was at a comparable level of economic development, and there are serious defects that disqualify all countries in the potential surrogate country list. Jacobi Oppn Cmts at 8; see also id. at 10-11 (asserting that that none of the countries on the list, including Thailand, are significant producers of comparable merchandise, and none have quality data).
This court previously found Commerces sequential surrogate country selection method to be a reasonable means of implementing its surrogate country selection criteria. See Jacobi (AR7) I , 222 F.Supp.3d at 1172. Nonetheless, because Commerces selection of Thailand as the primary surrogate country rests on its determinations that Thailand is a significant producer of comparable merchandise and has suitable surrogate value data, which determinations are unsustainable at this time, see infra , as a factual matter, Commerces primary surrogate country selection remains an open question.
Commerce appears to contend that evidence of domestic production alone satisfies the significant producer criterion, but that evidence regarding Thailands status as a net exporter provides further support for its finding. See Remand Results at 20-21 (financial statements from domestic producers of identical merchandise demonstrates that there is significant production of comparable merchandise in Thailand); id. at 24 (stating same); id. at 37 (Thailand is a significant producer ... based on the domestic production of activated carbon ....); id. at 40 ([D]omestic production ... provides the best indication that Thailand is a significant producer of comparable merchandise.); id. at 21-22 (evidence of net exports also demonstrates that Thailand can be considered a significant producer of comparable merchandise); id. at 41 (In sum, the meaning of the term significant, the evidence of domestic production of activated carbon, and the net exports of Thailand all support our finding here.). But see id. at 24 (While we are not relying on export or net export quantity in determining that Thailand is a significant producer, the record demonstrates that Thailand is not only a significant exporter of comparable merchandise, but also a net exporter of comparable merchandise, a metric that [Commerce] may rely on in its significant producer analysis.") (emphasis added).
Commerce also discusses Thailands ranking on a list of activated carbon-exporting countries and its concomitant asserted influence on global trade of the subject merchandise. Remand Results at 23-24. Commerce did so in response to the courts concern that the agencys prior discussion of Thailands ranking on a list of activated carbon exporting countries lacked evidence regarding the significance of that ranking in terms of its effect on global trade. Jacobi (AR7) I , 222 F.Supp.3d at 1182 (citing Fresh Garlic Prod. Assoc. v. United States , 40 CIT ----, ----, 180 F.Supp.3d 1233, 1243 (2016) ; see also Remand Results at 23. However, because Commerce does not support its significant producer determination with this evidence, the court accords it no further consideration. See Remand Results at 24, 39 ([G]lobal trade analysis is not a basis [Commerce] is using to determine whether Thailand is a significant producer of comparable merchandise.).
Commerce cites to Petitioners Surrogate Value Submission to substantiate Gigantics financial information. Remand Results at 20 n.63; see also Petrs Final Pre-Prelim. Submission of Surrogate Value Information (March 31, 2015), Attach. 3, RJA Tab 4, PR 320-321, ECF No. 114 (supplying Gigantics 2013 financial statement). Commerce cites to Datong Juqiangs Surrogate Value Submission to substantiate Carbokarns financial information. Remand Results at 20-21 n.64; see also Second Surrogate Value Submission by DJAC (DJAC 2nd Surrogate Value Cmts), Ex. 8, RJA Tab 5, PR 322-323, ECF No. 114 (supplying Carbokarns 2013 financial statement). Commerce goes on to state that [i]n 2013, [Gigantic] had activated carbon sales of 165,415,855 Baht and in 2010, [Carbokarn] had activated carbon sales of 306,799,179 Baht. Remand Results at 21 n.65 (citations omitted). The figure Commerce provides as reflecting Carbokarns 2010 sales is not found in DJACs submission, which, as stated above, contains Carbokarns 2013 financial statement. Rather, Carbokarns 2010 financial statement was appended to Commerces preliminary surrogate value memorandum. See Surrogate Values for the Prelim. Results (Apr. 29, 2015), Attach. 10, PJA Tab 18, PR 336-39, ECF No. 85-3. That document substantiates Commerces assertion regarding the amount of activated carbon Carbokarn sold in 2010. See id. For 2013, Carbokarns financial statement reflects sales of 469,739,739.45 Baht and total revenue of 500,363,415.32 Baht, 93.89 percent of which is accounted for by the companys [m]anufacture, export and import [of] charcoal water filter, charcoal, and chemical products. See DJAC 2nd Surrogate Value Cmts, Ex. 8.
Commerce characterizes this figure as Thailands net exports for the POR (2013-2014). See Remand Results at 21. However, this figure is derived from Thailands exports and imports for the two years ending March 2013 and March 2014. In other words, it is the sum of Thailands combined 2013 and 2014 exports (14,426,415 kilograms) minus its combined 2013 and 2014 imports (12,391,106 kilograms). See Surrogate Country Comments by DJAC (November 12, 2014) (DJAC Surrogate Country Cmts), Ex. 1, RJA 3, PR 180, ECF No. 114.
Commerce explains that it prefers to consider quantity because several factors may distort value determinations, such as the relationship between the seller and customer, terms of sale, the volume of specific transactions, or market distortions. Remand Results at 22. Commerce also notes that the statute directs Commerce to consider aggregate quantity and not value when determining whether a given comparison market is viable. Remand Results at 22 & n.74 (citing 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(a)(1)(B)(ii)(II) ).
Nor does Commerce explain its reliance on Carbokarns 2010 sales, as opposed to its POR sales. See supra note 21 (noting that Commerce identified Carbokarns 2010 sales but cited to its 2013 financial statement).
Commerce points to Carbokarns status in an apparent attempt to buttress its finding that the companys reference to chemical products in its description of its business as the [m]anufacture, export and import [of] charcoal water filter, charcoal, and chemical products means activated carbon. See Remand Results at 37; DJAC 2nd Surrogate Value Cmts, Ex. 8. Commerces logic is unclear. Commerce explains that International Labor Organization and Thai industry statistics categorize a manufacturer of activated carbon as a manufacturer of other chemicals and chemical products. Remand Results at 37 & n.126 (citations omitted). From there, Commerce contends that it is reasonable to conclude that while Carbokarns Financial Statement Submission Form indicates that it is a (m)anufacture(r), export(er) and import(er of) charcoal water filter, charcoal, and chemical products, as a manufacturer of activated carbon, the company would also categorize itself as a manufacturer of other chemicals. Remand Results at 37 & n.127 (citations omitted). Commerces internal and record citations fail to reference a document that supports the agencys proposition. Moreover, Commerce appears to surmise that because Carbokarns production of activated carbon would be correctly referenced in the broader categories of charcoal water filter, charcoal and chemical products or other chemicals, these broad categories may be relied upon as representative of the narrower category of activated carbon. The basis for such an assumption is not explained and, in any case, there is no discussion of why Gigantics and Carbokarns particular sales values render the companies production significant.
Commerce does explain that it prefers to rely on quantity rather than value because of certain distortions that may arise when relying on value. Remand Results at 22. Commerces reliance on quantity is reasonable, but that does not explain why the existence of net export quantities is a reasonable interpretation of significant producer.
The Calgon Carbon court further noted that Thailand had net exports of activated carbon in the amount of 862,000 kilograms, which was not obviously insignificant, and total POR exports in the amount of 6,555,094 kilograms. 190 F.Supp.3d at 1243 n.25 (citations omitted). However, Commerces basis for finding Thailand a significant producer in that case rested purely on evidence of exports in any amount. See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Court Remand at 35, Consol. Court No. 14-00326, ECF No. 97 (We find the fact that a country exports comparable merchandise to other countries to be a strong indication that the country is a significant producer of such merchandise.).
In Fresh Garlic , the court opined that
an interpretation of significant producer countries as those whose domestic production could influence or affect world trade would be a permissible construction of the statute. This follows from the plain meaning of the word significant as something having or likely to have influence or effect. This definition, however, necessarily requires comparing potential surrogate countries production to world production of the subject merchandise.
121 F.Supp.3d at 1338-39 (citation omitted), quoted in Jacobi (AR7) I , 222 F.Supp.3d at 1180. The Jacobi (AR7) I court noted that [a]gency policy is consistent with Fresh Garlic [ ]. 222 F.Supp.3d at 1180 (quoting Policy Bulletin 04.1 at 3) ([A] judgement [sic ] should be made consistent with the characteristics of world production of, and trade in, comparable merchandise.) ).
In responding to Jacobis argument that Commerce should not rely on the financial statements because they lack any indication of quantities sold, the agency asserts that it considers net exports of 2,035,309 [kilograms] and 472,215,034 Baht in domestic sales to be reflective of the fact that Thailand ... has a viable activated carbon sector, such that it would supply reliable surrogate values. Remand Results at 38. As Jacobi contends, however, viable is not the statutory standard, and Commerces use of the term in this context is unclear. Jacobi Oppn Cmts at 16. Additionally, Commerces conclusion relies on unexplained temporal discrepancies; its net export value represents the sum of Thailands 2013 and 2014 combined net exports, and its sales value represents the sum of Gigantics 2013 sales and Carbokarns 2010 sales. See supra notes 21, 22.
To that end, Commerce must also clarify whether it seeks to rely on Carbokarns 2010 or 2013 sales, and whether it seeks to rely on two years worth of net exports or net exports for the POR.
There are exceptions to the requirement of exhaustion, which may be applied at the courts discretion, however, none are applicable here. For the reasons discussed, the court declines to require further exhaustion of this issue.
Section 1677b(c)(5) came into effect during the pendency of the underlying administrative proceeding. See Dates of Application of Amendments to the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Laws Made by the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 , 80 Fed. Reg. 46,793, 46,795 (Dept Commerce Aug. 6, 2015) (clarifying that § 1677b(c)(5) applies to determinations made on or after August 6, 2015). The codification of Commerces discretion to reject subsidy-tainted financial statements is not determinative, however, because the provision simply clarifies [Commerces] authority for its existing practice, and does not impose any new requirements on the parties to [antidumping] proceedings. Id.
Commerce explained that, pursuant to the tax coupon program, the Thai government provides tax coupons to exporters equal to a certain percentage of the [free on board] value of their exports, the purpose of which is to refund import duties paid for the imported raw materials and other inputs used in the production of exported goods. Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Thailand , I & D Mem. at 6 (footnote citations omitted). [T]he program is designed to act as a duty drawback or remission within the meaning of 19 CFR [§] 351.519, and [e]xporters can use the tax coupons to pay other taxes and duties. Id. (footnote citation omitted); see also 19 C.F.R. § 351.519 (governing the [r]emission or drawback of import charges upon export).
Likewise, the court declines to resolve Jacobis argument that the greater number of Philippine financial statements favored the use of Philippine data to value financial ratios as compared to the sole Thai statement. Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 24-26. Jacobis argument presumes the usability of each data source, which, as discussed, remains an open question. See id. at 24 ([E]ven if the court were to conclude that this single Thai financial statement was somehow usable, Commerces conclusion would still be unsupported by the evidentiary record because the evidentiary record contained multiple usable Philippine financial statements.).
Carbonized material is a charred, intermediate input used in the production of activated carbon. Def.-Ints. Rule 56.2 Resp. at 34 n.18.
A benchmark is a product whose price roughly correlates with the price of an input assigned a surrogate value. Blue Field (Sichuan) Food Indus. Co., Ltd. v. United States , 37 CIT ----, ----, 949 F.Supp.2d 1311, 1317 (2013).
In particular, Jacobi refers to Commerces selection of Cocommunity data to value carbonized material in the fifth and sixth administrative reviews of this proceeding. Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 38-39 (citations omitted).
In the instant litigation, Jacobi also contends that the Thai import value is aberrant on the basis that most of the imports into Thailand under HS 4402.90.10000 are from France, and it is common knowledge that coconuts are not grown in France. Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 43. Jacobi urges the court to take judicial notice of the fact that coconuts are not native to France. See id. (recognizing that it is not possible to point to a specific written sentence somewhere on the evidentiary record that explicitly makes this point).
The court previously denied Jacobis motion to supplement the administrative record to add information regarding French imports into Thailand. See Jacobi (AR7) I , 222 F.Supp.3d at 1194-95. Additionally, the Government is correct that Jacobi failed to exhaust its administrative argument about the lack of French production of coconuts before the agency. See Gov. Rule 56.2 Resp. at 54. Jacobi first raised this argument in its rebuttal brief to the agency, which is insufficient. See 19 C.F.R. § 351.309(d) (The rebuttal brief may respond only to arguments raised in case briefs ....); Qingdao , 766 F.3d at 1388 (Commerce regulations require the presentation of all issues and arguments in a partys case brief.). In any event, Jacobi has not shown that judicial notice is merited. The court may judicially notice a fact that is not subject to reasonable dispute because it ... is generally known within the trial courts territorial jurisdiction; or ... can be accurately and readily determined from sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned. Fed. R. Evid. 201(b) ; see also 28 U.S.C. § 2641 (stating that the Federal Rules of Evidence apply to all civil actions, with certain exceptions not relevant here, in the U.S. Court of International Trade). Beyond the conclusory assertion that it is a basic geographic fact that coconuts are not native to France, Jacobi has not made any showing pursuant to Rule 201(b). The court therefore denies Jacobis request. Accordingly, the court will not further address this aspect of Jacobis argument.
The Governments assertion that appearing at the high or low end of a range of values does not render that data aberrational is unpersuasive. Gov. Rule 56.2 Resp. at 50 (citing I & D Mem. at 26; Camau Frozen Seafood Processing Imp. Exp. Corp. v. United States , 37 CIT ----, ----, 929 F.Supp.2d 1352, 1356 n.9 (2013) ); see also Camau , 929 F.Supp.2d at 1356 n.9 (Bangladeshi labor data was not aberrant when it occupied the lowest price in a range of prices and comparison prices form a nearly straight line continuum from the Bangladeshi data on the low end to the Philippine ... data on the high end). Cf. Elkay Mfg ., 180 F.Supp.3d at 1252 (Thai data was not aberrant when it was the highest ($3.61) in a range of six other values from $2.10 to $3.21). In contrast to the ranges reflected in Camau and Elkay Mfg. , here, the Thai import value is roughly three times the proffered benchmark values, all of which were similar.
On remand, Commerce initially declined to recalculate the surrogate value and instead applied adverse facts available. Peer Bearing Co.-Changshan v. United States , 36 CIT ----, ----, 853 F.Supp.2d 1365, 1370 (2012). The CIT remanded again, and, on remand, Commerce, under protest, selected the relevant surrogate value from a different economically comparable country, which it noted was considerably closer in value to the benchmark value established by U.S. import data. Peer Bearing Co.-Changshan v. United States , Slip Op. 13-116, 2013 WL 4615134, at *4 (CIT Aug. 30, 2013), vacated on other grounds , 766 F.3d 1396 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (holding that the CIT erred in remanding Commerces application of facts available with an adverse inference).
The changeability of Commerces list of potential surrogate countries is also demonstrated by changes Commerce made to the list in the underlying proceeding when it determined to rely on 2013 GNI data instead of 2012 GNI data. Compare Request for Surrogate Country and Surrogate Value Comments and Information (July 25, 2014) (Commerce SC Letter), Attach. 1, PJA Tab 43, PR 64, ECF No. 85-4 (initially listing South Africa, Colombia, Bulgaria, Thailand, Ecuador, and Indonesia as economically comparable countries on the basis of 2012 data), with Prelim. Mem. at 14-15 (preliminarily determining that Bulgaria, Ecuador, Romania, South Africa, Thailand, and Ukraine as economically comparable on the basis of 2013 data).
The court notes that Commerce has discretion to reopen the record for the purpose of examining the Thai value for aberrancy. See Essar Steel Ltd. v. United States , 678 F.3d 1268, 1278 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (The decision to reopen the record is best left to the agency, in this case Commerce.).
As noted above, Jacobi separately argues that Commerce failed to compare the Thai and Philippine data sets to determine which of the two values for carbonized material yielded the most accurate dumping margin. Jacobi Rule 56.2 Mem. at 32-33 (citing, inter alia , Clearon Corp ., 2015 WL 4978995, at *4 ). Clearon Corp. addressed Commerces evaluation of data considerations as part of its surrogate country selection methodology, not the selection of a particular surrogate value. 2015 WL 4978995, at *4-5. The court opined that when the party proposing a non-listed country as the primary surrogate country demonstrat[es] that no country on the surrogate country list provides the scope of quality data that [Commerce] requires in order to make a primary surrogate country selection, the agency must consider the quality of the data from the non-listed country relative to its economic disparity. Id. To the extent that Clearon Corp. s instruction applies to surrogate value selection, the court defers the issue of whether Commerce must compare or otherwise consider the Philippine Cocommunity data as a surrogate value pending Commerces reconsideration of the potential aberrancy of the chosen Thai value. See Mittal Steel , 31 CIT at 1135, 502 F.Supp.2d at 1308 (Commerce should consider data not from countries on the surrogate country list when its chosen data is demonstrably aberrational).
Exhibit SC-54 consists of an Order of the President of the PRC regarding the application of VAT regulations to foreign enterprise. Jacobi Suppl. SCQR, Ex. SC-54. Pursuant thereto, the purchase of domestic or imported goods incurs 17 percent VAT. See Jacobi Suppl. SCQR, Ex. SC-54 (Arts. 1, 2(1) ).
Exhibit SC-55 consists of a June 19, 2007 Circular of the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation of the Peoples Republic of China on Adjusting the Tax-refund Rate for Some Export Commodities. See Jacobi Suppl. SCQR, Ex. SC-55. It explains that activated carbon is ineligible for an export rebate. See id.
Commerce defined estimated customs value as an ex-factory net U.S. price plus foreign movement expenses. I & D Mem. at 18.
Exhibit SC-56 consists of a Notice from the State Administration of Taxation of the Peoples Republic of China Concerning the Refund (Exemption) of Tax of Exported Commodities issued on July 12, 2006. See Jacobi Suppl. SCQR, Ex. SC-56. The notice states that exported goods that are ineligible for a refund or exemption of VAT will incur an output tax payable which shall be calculated by regarding them as domestically sold goods or they shall be subject to value added tax. Id. Chinese law permits sellers of domestic goods to offset the input VAT incurred from the output VAT collected before remitting any payable tax amount to the Chinese government. See id. , Ex. SC-54 (Art. 4).
At oral argument, the Government explained that DJACs proposal entailed calculating the amount of VAT already included in its FOB value, rather than calculating an amount based on a rate applied to its FOB value. For example, a FOB value of $1,000 consists of $145.30 in VAT in addition to a sales price of $854.70; i.e., 854.70 multiplied by 0.17 equals 145.30, and 854.70 plus 145.30 equals 1,000. According to DJAC, therefore, Commerce should have used the lower figure of $854.70 as the base upon which it calculated VAT. See Oral Arg. at 5:45-8:21 (reflecting a time stamp from the recording).
The recent decision in Quingdao Qihang Tyre Co., Ltd. v. United States , Slip Op. 18-35, 308 F.Supp.3d 1329, 2018 WL 1635920 (CIT Apr. 4, 2018), holding that the statute is unambiguous and does not permit Commerce to adjust for irrecoverable VAT does not lead the court to re-examine this holding. The holding in Qingdao Qihang Tyre was premised on its understanding that Commerce was applying the export tax, duty or other charge language to a domestic tax. As discussed herein, in this case, Commerce is adjusting for an output VAT charged on the exportation of the merchandise. Qingdao Qihang Tyre is, therefore, distinguishable.
In so doing, Commerce relied on the same law cited by DJAC as the basis for its adjustment. See I & D Mem. at 15 & n.56 (citing Jacobi Suppl. SCQR, Ex. SC-56); id. at 20 n.80 (citing same); Remand Results at 27 n.96 (citing same). The agencys calculation differs, however, in that it calculated the VAT adjustment by applying the 17 percent rate to the total U.S. price, Remand Results at 28, whereas DJAC proposed determining the adjustment on the basis of U.S. price minus an amount for output VAT, supra note 48.
This discussion occurred during the portion of the argument dedicated to the Rule 56.2 motions filed regarding Commerces determination in the eighth administrative review of this proceeding (Consol. Court No. 16-185). However, the Government stated that there are no material differences regarding its VAT calculations between the seventh and eighth administrative reviews. Oral Arg. at 1:56:37-1:56:51.
Commerce noted that the adjustment is not intended to account for the difference between Jacobis VAT payments on input products to the PRC tax authority and output VAT payments Jacobi receives for its sales of activated carbon. Remand Results at 28. The court understands that § 1677a(c)(2)(B) permits adjustments on the basis of an amount of an export tax, duty, or other charge included in U.S. price, see 19 U.S.C. § 1677a(c)(2)(B), and that Jacobis ability to offset its input VAT against its output VAT payable is not necessarily dispositive of whether any VAT is included in its U.S. price. Nevertheless, Commerces treatment of Jacobis particular VAT situation appears inconsistent with its characterization of irrecoverable VAT; to wit , Commerces assertion that the portion of the input VAT [that] ... is not refunded represents a tax, duty or other charge imposed on exports that is not imposed on domestic sales (i.e., irrecoverable VAT), Remand Results at 26, overlooks the fact that sales of activated carbon are ineligible for an export rebate and are, therefore, treated as domestic sales , Jacobi Suppl. SCQR, Ex. SC-56. This fact appears to distinguish this case from certain others before the court. See Qingdao Qihang Tyre, 308 F.Supp.3d at 1336, 2018 WL 1635920, at *4 (discussed supra note 49); Aristocraft , 269 F.Supp.3d at 1324 ; China Mfrs. Alliance , 205 F.Supp.3d at 1345 ; Juancheng Kangtai , 2017 WL 218910, at *13. Accordingly, Commerces second redetermination must address, with citations to substantial supporting evidence, why Jacobis particular VAT situation merits the irrecoverable VAT adjustment.
The court is free to reconsider its conclusion on this issue pending Commerces second redetermination. See USCIT Rule 54(b).