Arlanxeo USA LLC v. United States , 389 F. Supp. 3d 1330 ( 2019 )

Slip Op. 19-60
UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
ARLANXEO USA LLC and ARLANXEO
BRASIL S.A.,
Plaintiffs,
and
INDUSTRIAS NEGROMEX, S.A. DE
C.V., INSA, LLC, KUMHO
PETROCHEMICAL CO., LTD., and
SYNTHOS S.A.,
Consolidated Plaintiffs, Before: Jennifer Choe-Groves, Judge
v. Consol. Court No. 17-00247
UNITED STATES and UNITED STATES
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION,
Defendant,
and
LION ELASTOMERS LLC,
Defendant-Intervenor.
OPINION
[Sustaining the U.S. International Trade Commission’s final affirmative material injury
determination in the antidumping duty investigation of emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber from
Brazil, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, and Poland.]
Dated: May 17, 2019
Kenneth G. Weigel, Alston & Bird, LLP, of Washington, D.C., argued for Plaintiffs Arlanxeo
USA LLC and Arlanxeo Brasil S.A. With him on the briefs was Chunlian Yang.
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 2
William C. Sjoberg, Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, LLP, of Washington, D.C., argued for
Consolidated Plaintiffs Industrias Negromex, S.A. de C.V. and INSA, LLC.
Jarrod M. Goldfeder, Trade Pacific, PLLC, of Washington, D.C., for Consolidated Plaintiff
Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd. With him on the briefs was Aqmar Rahman.
Jill A. Cramer, Mowry & Grimson, PLLC, of Washington, D.C., for Consolidated Plaintiff
Synthos S.A. With her on the briefs were Jeffrey S. Grimson and Yuzhe PengLing. Bryan P.
Cenko, James C. Beaty, Kristin H. Mowry, and Sarah M. Wyss also appeared.
Jane C. Dempsey, Attorney, Office of General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, of
Washington, D.C., argued for Defendant U.S. International Trade Commission. With her on the
brief were Dominic Bianchi, General Counsel, and Andrea C. Casson, Assistant General Counsel
for Litigation.
Matthew T. McGrath, Barnes, Richardson & Colburn, LLP, of Washington, D.C., argued for
Defendant-Intervenor Lion Elastomers LLC.
Choe-Groves, Judge: This consolidated action challenges the final affirmative material
injury determination issued by the U.S. International Trade Commission (“Defendant,” “ITC,” or
“Commission”) in the antidumping duty investigation of emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber
(“ESBR”) from Brazil, Mexico, the Republic of Korea (“Korea”), and Poland. See Emulsion
Styrene-Butadiene Rubber From Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland, 82 Fed. Reg. 43,402 (Int’l
Trade Comm’n Sept. 15, 2017); see also Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Brazil,
Korea, Mexico, and Poland, USITC Pub. 4717, Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1334-1337 (Aug. 2017),
available at https://www.usitc.gov/publications/701_731/pub4717.pdf (last visited May 14,
2019) (“Final ITC Determination”). Before the court are two Rule 56.2 Motions for Judgment
on the Agency Record filed by Arlanxeo USA LLC, Arlanxeo Brasil S.A., Industrias Negromex,
S.A. de C.V., INSA, LLC, Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd., and Synthos S.A. See Joint Mot. J.
Agency R. Pursuant USCIT Rule 56.2 Pls. Arlanxeo USA LLC & Arlanxeo Brasil S.A., &
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 3
Consol. Pls. Industrias Negromex, S.A. de C.V., INSA, LLC, Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd., &
Synthos S.A., Apr. 30, 2018, ECF No. 46; Mot. J. Agency R. Pursuant Rule 56.2 Consol. Pl.
Synthos S.A. Issue Negligibility, Apr. 30, 2018, ECF No. 42. For the following reasons, the
court sustains the Commission’s final affirmative material injury determination.
ISSUES PRESENTED
The court reviews the following issues:
1. Whether the Commission’s finding regarding the volume of subject imports was
supported by substantial evidence;
2. Whether the Commission’s finding regarding price effects was supported by
substantial evidence and in accordance with the law;
3. Whether the Commission’s finding regarding the impact of subject imports was
supported by substantial evidence and in accordance with the law; and
4. Whether the Commission’s determination that Poland was not a negligible source
of subject imports was supported by substantial evidence and in accordance with
the law.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Lion Elastomers LLC (“Lion”) and East West Copolymer, LLC filed antidumping duty
petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Department” or “Commerce”) and the ITC
on July 21, 2016, alleging that the domestic industry had been materially injured or threatened
with material injury from imports of ESBR from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland. See
Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland, USITC Pub. 4636
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 4
at I-1, Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1334-1337 (Preliminary) (Sept. 2016). Commerce and the ITC
instituted antidumping duty investigations. See id.
Commerce completed its antidumping duty investigations of the four subject countries
and published its final determinations on July 19, 2017. See Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene
Rubber From Brazil, 82 Fed. Reg. 33,048 (Dep’t Commerce July 19, 2017) (final affirmative
determination of sales at less than fair value and final negative determination of critical
circumstances) (“Brazil AD Final Determination”); Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber From
the Republic of Korea, 82 Fed. Reg. 33,045 (Dep’t Commerce July 19, 2017) (final affirmative
determination of sales at less than fair value, and final affirmative determination of critical
circumstances, in part) (“Korea AD Final Determination”); Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber
From Mexico, 82 Fed. Reg. 33,062 (Dep’t Commerce July 19, 2017) (final affirmative
determination of sales at less than fair value) (“Mexico AD Final Determination”); Emulsion
Styrene-Butadiene Rubber From Poland, 82 Fed. Reg. 33,061 (Dep’t Commerce July 19, 2017)
(final affirmative determination of sales at less than fair value) (“Poland AD Final
Determination”). In the Brazil investigation, Commerce found that the subject imports of ESBR
were being sold at less than fair value and calculated a final dumping margin of 19.61 percent.
See Brazil AD Final Determination, 82 Fed. Reg. at 33,048. Commerce found also that the
subject imports of ESBR were being sold at less than fair value in the Korea, Mexico, and
Poland investigations and calculated final dumping margins of 9.66 percent to 44.30 percent,
19.52 percent, and 25.43 percent, respectively. See Korea AD Final Determination, 82 Fed. Reg.
at 33,046; Mexico AD Final Determination, 82 Fed. Reg. at 33,063; Poland AD Final
Determination, 82 Fed. Reg. at 33,062.
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 5
The ITC published its final affirmative material injury determination on August 3, 2017.
See Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber From Brazil, Mexico, Korea, and Poland, 82 Fed. Reg.
at 43,402. The ITC held a public hearing on June 29, 2017, see Final ITC Determination at I-1,
and received pre-hearing and post-hearing briefs from the relevant parties. See id. at 3. The
Commission received questionnaire data from 15 importers accounting for 100 percent of
imports of subject ESBR from Brazil, 92.2 percent of imports of subject ESBR from Korea, 100
percent of imports of subject ESBR from Mexico, 99.9 percent of imports of subject ESBR from
Poland, and 79.5 percent of imports of ESBR from non-subject countries during the final year of
investigation. See id. at 4. The ITC held a public hearing on June 29, 2017, see id. at I-1, and
received pre-hearing and post-hearing briefs from relevant parties. See id. at 3. The period of
investigation spanned from January 2014 through March 2017. See id. at 24.
An evenly-divided Commission determined that an industry in the United States had been
materially injured by reason of imports of ESBR from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland that
Commerce found to be sold at less than fair value. See id. at 3, 12. As a result, Commerce
published antidumping duty orders on subject imports from the four subject countries on
September 12, 2017. See Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Brazil, the Republic of
Korea, Mexico, and Poland: Antidumping Duty Orders, 82 Fed. Reg. 42,790 (Dep’t Commerce
Sept. 12, 2017) (“Antidumping Duty Orders”).
The Commission commenced its injury analysis by defining the domestic product that is
like or most similar to the imported ESBR and identifying the industry responsible for producing
the domestic like product. See Final ITC Determination at 4–8. ESBR is predominantly used in
the production of car and light truck tires, as well as in a variety of non-tire products, including
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 6
conveyor belts, shoe soles, hoses, roller coverings, and flooring. See id. at 6. The Commission’s
definition of the domestic like product was coterminous with the scope of the imported ESBR
under investigation by Commerce. See id. at 7. “The scope of these investigations covers grades
of ESBR included in the [International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers] 1500 and 1700
series of synthetic rubbers. . . . The Commission consequently defined a single domestic like
product, consisting of the 1500 and 1700 series ESBR, a product category that was coextensive
with the scope [set by Commerce].” See id. at 5–7. The Commission found that the domestic
industry includes all U.S. producers of the domestic like product. See id. at 8.
The Commission assessed the market conditions of the domestic ESBR industry in its
analysis of material injury by reason of subject imports. See id. at 12–31. The Commission
found that apparent domestic consumption of ESBR declined over the period of investigation.
See id. at 17. The Commission noted that demand for ESBR is “generally driven by the demand
for tires, primarily demand for replacement tires and to a lesser degree for tires that original
equipment manufacturers [ ] mount on new vehicles.” Id. A “reduced demand for end-use
products, such as replacement tires, off-the-road tires, and conveyor belts” and an increase in the
use of solution styrene-butadiene rubber (“SSBR”) in place of ESBR were provided as reasons
for the decline in demand. Id. The cost of raw materials used to produce ESBR, including
styrene and butadiene, declined from January 2014 to December 2016, but increased from
December 2016 to March 2017. See id. at 19–20. The domestic industry was the largest
supplier of ESBR to the U.S. market during the period of investigation, and cumulated subject
imports from the four subject countries were the second largest source of supply. See id. at 18.
Cumulated subject imports held a market share of approximately 20 percent during the period of
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 7
investigation. See id. at 20. The Commission determined that there was a moderate to high
degree of substitutability between domestically produced ESBR and the subject imports. See id.
at 19. “[T]he 1500 and 1700 series ESBR are manufactured according to [International Institute
of Synthetic Rubber Producers] industry specifications. Moreover, a majority of responding U.S.
producers and purchasers reported that ESBR imports from the subject countries are ‘always’ or
‘frequently’ interchangeable with each other and with the domestic like product.” See id.
The Commission then considered the volume of cumulated subject imports, price effects
of cumulated subject imports, and the impact of cumulated subject imports on the domestic
industry. See id. at 20–31. The Commission found that although the quantity and market share
of cumulated subject imports decreased from 2014 to 2016, said imports remained at “elevated
levels in the U.S. market in 2015 and 2016.” See id. at 21. “[E]ven though demand declined and
[domestic production recovered from supply disruption], cumulated subject imports did not
meaningfully retreat from the U.S. market during the period of investigation.” See id. The
Commission found that the volume of cumulated subject imports was significant “on an absolute
basis and relative to apparent U.S. consumption.” See id. Subject imports undersold the
domestic like product and depressed U.S. producer prices to a significant degree. See id. at 22–
24. The Commission recognized that while other factors contributed to the downward trend in
prices, including a decline in cost for raw materials, “these cannot explain the magnitude of the
declines in prices of the domestic like product.” See id. at 24. The Commission determined that
the “significant volume of low-priced cumulated subject imports put pressure on the domestic
industry to reduce prices.” See id. at 25. The Commission noted that cumulated subject imports
from the four subject countries had a significant impact on the domestic industry, resulting in
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 8
declines in production, capacity utilization, U.S. shipments, and net sales revenues as well as
fluctuations in industry employment, wages, and productivity. See id. at 27–31.
The Commission concluded that the domestic industry was materially injured by reason
of subject imports of ESBR from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland that were sold in the U.S. at
less than fair value. See id. at 34. Accordingly, Commerce issued antidumping duty orders on
ESBR from the four subject countries. See Antidumping Duty Orders.
Plaintiffs Arlanxeo USA LLC and Arlanxeo Brasil S.A. (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) and
Consolidated Plaintiffs Industrias Negromex, S.A. de C.V. (“Industrias”), INSA, LLC, Kumho
Petrochemical Co., Ltd., and Synthos S.A. (collectively, “Consolidated Plaintiffs”) initiated
multiple actions challenging the ITC’s final affirmative determination of material injury, which
the court consolidated. See Order, Feb. 9, 2018, ECF No. 35. The court denied Defendant’s
motion to dismiss Industrias’ complaint and granted Industrias’ cross-motion for leave to
construe the summons and complaint as concurrently-filed. See Arlanxeo USA LLC v. United
States, 42 CIT __, 337 F. Supp. 3d 1350 (2018).
Plaintiffs and Consolidated Plaintiffs filed a Rule 56.2 motion challenging various
aspects of the Final ITC Determination. See Joint Mot. J. Agency R. Pursuant USCIT Rule 56.2
Pls. Arlanxeo USA LLC & Arlanxeo Brasil S.A., & Consol. Pls. Industrias Negromex, S.A. de
C.V., INSA, LLC, Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd., & Synthos S.A., Apr. 30, 2018, ECF No. 46;
see also Pls.’ & Consol. Pls.’ Mem. Supp. Joint Mot. J. Agency R. Under USCIT Rule 56.2, Apr.
30, 2018, ECF No. 46 (“Pls. Br.”). Consolidated Plaintiff Synthos S.A. (“Synthos”) filed a Rule
56.2 motion challenging the ITC’s negligibility determination regarding Poland. See Mot. J.
Agency R. Pursuant Rule 56.2 Consol. Pl. Synthos S.A. Issue Negligibility, Apr. 30, 2018, ECF
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 9
No. 42; see also Mem. P. & A. Supp. Mot. J. Agency R. Pursuant Rule 56.2 Pl. Synthos S.A.
Issue Negligibility, Apr. 30, 2018, ECF No. 45 (“Synthos Br.”). The court held oral argument on
March 6, 2019. See Closed Oral Argument, Mar. 6, 2019, ECF No. 70.
JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
The court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c) (2012) and Section
516A(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(a)(2)(B)(ii), which
grant the court authority to review actions contesting the ITC’s final affirmative injury
determination following an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation. The court will
uphold the ITC’s determinations, findings, or conclusions unless they are unsupported by
substantial evidence on the record, or otherwise not in accordance with the law. 19 U.S.C.
§ 1516a(b)(1)(B)(i); see also Siemens Energy, Inc. v. United States, 806 F.3d 1367, 1369 (Fed.
Cir. 2015). The possibility of drawing two inconsistent conclusions from the evidence does not
prevent the court from holding that the Commission’s determinations, findings, or conclusions
are supported by substantial evidence. See Nippon Steel Corp. v. United States, 458 F.3d 1345,
1352 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (citing Am. Silicon Techs. v. United States, 261 F.3d 1371, 1376 (Fed.
Cir. 2001)); see also Consolo v. Fed. Mar. Comm’n, 383 U.S. 607, 620 (1966).
ANALYSIS
I. Legal Framework
In order to make an affirmative material injury determination, the ITC must find that
(1) material injury existed and (2) the material injury was caused by reason of the subject
imports. See Swiff-Train Co. v. United States, 793 F.3d 1355, 1359 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (quoting
Gerald Metals, Inc. v. United States, 132 F.3d 716, 719 (Fed. Cir. 1997)). Material injury is
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 10
defined by statute as harm that is not inconsequential, immaterial, or unimportant. 19 U.S.C.
§ 1677(7)(A). To determine whether a domestic industry has been materially injured or
threatened with material injury by reason of unfairly subsidized or less than fair value imports,
the Commission considers:
(I) the volume of imports of the subject merchandise,
(II) the effect of imports of that merchandise on prices in the United States for
domestic like products, and
(III) the impact of imports of such merchandise on domestic producers of
domestic like products, but only in the context of production operations
within the United States.
Id. § 1677(7)(B)(i). The Commission may consider such other economic factors as are relevant
to the determination regarding whether there is material injury by reason of imports. Id.
§ 1677(7)(B)(ii). No single factor is dispositive and the significance to be assigned to a
particular factor is for the ITC to decide. See S. Rep. No. 96-249, at 88 (1979), reprinted in 1979
U.S.C.C.A.N. 381, 474.
The statute neither defines the phrase “by reason of” nor provides the ITC with guidance
on how to determine whether the material injury is by reason of subject imports. The Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit has interpreted the “by reason of” statutory language to require
the Commission to consider the volume of subject imports, their price effects, their impact on the
domestic industry, and to establish whether there is a causal connection between the imported
goods and the material injury to the domestic industry. See Swiff-Train Co., 793 F.3d at 1361;
see also S. Rep. No. 96-249, at 57–58, 74–75 (1979), reprinted in 1979 U.S.C.C.A.N. 381, 443–
44, 460–61.
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 11
II. The Parties’ Challenges to the Commission’s Final Affirmative Material Injury
Determination
Plaintiffs dispute various findings made by the Commission that contributed to the final
affirmative material injury determination. The court addresses each finding in turn.
A. The Commission’s Volume Determination
The ITC is required to consider the volume of subject imports in determining whether a
domestic industry has been materially injured. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677(7)(C)(i). When evaluating
volume, the Commission must consider “whether the volume of imports of the merchandise, or
any increase in that volume, either in absolute terms or relative to production or consumption in
the United States, is significant.” Id. § 1677(7)(C)(i); see also Nucor Corp. v. United States, 414
F.3d 1331, 1335 (Fed. Cir. 2005). The statute does not define what is considered “significant”
because “[f]or one industry, an apparently small volume of imports may have a significant
impact on the market; for another, the same volume might not be significant.” See S. Rep. No.
96–249, at 88 (1979), reprinted in 1979 U.S.C.C.A.N. 381, 474. The court will uphold the
Commission’s volume determination unless it is unsupported by substantial evidence in the
record. See Siemens Energy, Inc., 806 F.3d at 1369 (quoting 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(b)(1)(B)(i)).
The Commission found that the volume of cumulated subject imports was significant on
an absolute basis and relative to apparent U.S. consumption. Final ITC Determination at 21.
The cumulated subject imports held a market share of approximately 20 percent during the
period of investigation. Id. at 20. The volume of cumulated subject imports increased from
2013 to 2014, after Lion closed its Baton Rouge plant in December 2013, and decreased between
2014 and 2016. See id. at 21. The Commission noted that after the plant reopened in April 2014
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 12
and U.S. consumption declined, the cumulated subject imports remained at elevated levels in the
U.S. market in 2015 and 2016. See id. The Commission stated that the oversupply of ESBR in
the global market contributed to the attractiveness of the U.S. market for the subject imports.
See id. The Commission found that the domestic industry had sufficient capacity to supply
apparent U.S. consumption during the period of investigation. Id. at 21 n.115.
Plaintiffs contend that the Commission failed to consider “the context and conditions of
competition here,” specifically that purchasers bought the subject imports in order to ensure an
“available i.e. secure, and reliable supply during a chaotic period for the domestic industry” due
to supply disruptions after the Baton Rouge plant closed. See Pls. Br. 8–10. Plaintiffs’ argument
fails because the Commission did consider the “context and conditions of competition here.”
After the Baton Rouge plant closed, the volume of cumulated subject imports increased, and
after the plant reopened, demand declined. Final ITC Determination at 21. The Commission
observed that after the plant reopened, the “cumulated subject imports did not meaningfully
retreat from the U.S. market.” See id. The Commission found also that the oversupply of ESBR
in the global market contributed to the attractiveness of the U.S. market, thus the plant closure
was not the sole reason for the increase in imports. See id. Because the Commission did
consider the supply disruptions in its volume analysis and other conditions of competition such
as the oversupply of ESBR in the global market, the court concludes that the Commission’s
volume determination is supported by substantial evidence.
B. The Commission’s Price Effects Determination
In evaluating the effect of imports on prices, the statute directs the Commission to
consider whether:
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 13
(I) there has been significant price underselling by the imported merchandise
as compared with the price of domestic like products of the United States,
and
(II) the effect of imports of such merchandise otherwise depresses prices to a
significant degree or prevents price increases, which otherwise would have
occurred, to a significant degree.
19 U.S.C. § 1677(7)(C)(ii).
1. Underselling
The Commission found widespread underselling of the domestic like product by subject
imports based on evidence that the subject imports undersold the domestic like product in 150 of
218 quarterly price comparisons and 85.6 percent of the quantity of subject imports covered by
the pricing data was sold during quarters in which the average price of these imports was less
than that of the comparable domestic product. See Final ITC Determination at 22–23. The
Commission also addressed the argument that the pricing data for some products was skewed
because of a “swap” agreement between Arlanxeo and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
(“Goodyear”), in which Arlanxeo received U.S.-produced ESBR in exchange for its Brazil-
produced ESBR on a pound for pound basis at an artificial price. See id. at 23. The Commission
found that the “swap” price was the result of a negotiation between two unrelated companies and
thus declined to revise the pricing date. See id.
Plaintiffs contend that the Commission’s underselling analysis is flawed because the
Commission based its analysis on the pricing trends between January 2014 and December 2016
and overlooked the fact that domestic prices increased over the period of investigation, including
the first quarter of 2017. See Pls. Br. 14–15. Plaintiffs argue that the Commission did not
properly analyze the causal nexus between subject imports and domestic prices because it failed
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 14
to consider other factors on prices such as demand declines, raw material cost fluctuations, and
the intensification of domestic competition. See Pls. Br. 19; Pls. Reply 10. 1 Plaintiffs argue also
that the Commission improperly considered the artificial swap price between Arlanxeo and
Goodyear rather than the market price of the ESBR in the Commission’s injury finding. See Pls.
Br. 24.
Plaintiffs’ first two arguments conflate the Commission’s analysis of underselling and
price depression. Section 1677(7)(C)(ii)(II) requires the Commission to undertake two distinct
analyses. Underselling involves a comparison of the “price of domestic like products of the
United States” and the “imported merchandise.” 19. U.S.C. § 1677(7)(C)(ii)(I). The
Commission properly undertook its underselling analysis by comparing prices from January
2014 through March 2017. See Final ITC Determination at Table V-10. Plaintiffs’ first
argument that the Commission overlooked pricing data from the first quarter of 2017 is related to
the Commission’s price depression analysis. See id. at 24 (“Our analysis of price depression
focuses on movements in quarterly prices for the domestic like product and subject imports
between January 2014 and December 2016.”). Plaintiff’s second argument relates to the
Commission’s price depression analysis rather than its underselling analysis because the “causal
nexus” between subject imports and domestic prices is related to “the effect of imports of such
1
At a closed oral argument, Plaintiffs raised a new, additional argument regarding price and
underselling in support of their contention that the Commission improperly analyzed the causal
nexus. See Closed Oral Argument, Mar. 6, 2019, ECF No. 70. Plaintiffs failed to raise this
argument in their opening brief and the court thus deems the argument waived. See SmithKline
Beecham Corp. v. Apotex Corp., 439 F.3d 1312, 1319 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (“Our law is well
established that arguments not raised in the opening brief are waived.”).
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merchandise” under 19 U.S.C. § 1677(7)(C)(ii). Because the Commission’s underselling
analysis was distinct from its price depression analysis, the court concludes that the
Commission’s underselling analysis is in accordance with the law.
Plaintiffs’ argument regarding the “swap” price is relevant to the Commission’s
underselling analysis. The Commission addressed the “swap” price in its analysis and declined
to revise the pricing data as “the price of the swap sales was negotiated between two unrelated
companies.” See Final ITC Determination at 23. The Commission is required to compare the
prices of subject imports to the domestic like product. See 19. U.S.C.§ 1677(7)(ii)(II). The
Commission is not required to compare the “market price” of subject imports to the domestic
like product, nor is the Commission required to revise the pricing data because Goodyear and
Arlanxeo negotiated a swap price “higher than the actual market price.” See Final ITC
Determination at 23. The Commission fulfilled its statutory obligation by using Goodyear’s
reported price for the swap transactions. Because the Commission did not have to revise the
swap price, the court finds that the Commission’s use of the swap price in its underselling
analysis is in accordance with the law.
2. Price Depression
The Commission found that the subject imports depressed U.S. producers’ prices to a
significant degree. Id. at 24. The Commission’s analysis focused on quarterly prices between
January 2014 and December 2016 and acknowledged that prices for the domestic products “rose
sharply during the first quarter of 2017.” See id. at 24 n.132. The Commission did not include
this data in its analysis because there were “anomalous conditions during this quarter, as it
reflected a period when raw material costs spiked.” See id. Prices, demand, and raw material
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costs declined from January 2014 to December 2016 for all products. See id. at 24. The
Commission observed that “despite declining demand, the volume of cumulated subject imports
remained at significant levels.” Id. The Commission found that the significant volume of
imports put pressure on the domestic industry to reduce prices by lowering the fixed conversion
fee, which covers producers’ other material costs, fixed overhead costs, and a profit margin in
the contract pricing formulas. See id. at 20, 25. The Commission acknowledged the intra-
industry competition between producers, but found that this argument failed because of the
“price transparency in this market” and that it was the presence of the imports in the market that
caused the price depression. See id. at 26.
Plaintiffs contend that the Commission’s determination is unsupported by substantial
evidence because it failed to consider the decline of subject import volume and market share in
its price depression analysis. See Pls. Br. 24–26. Plaintiffs argue that the Commission’s price
depression analysis is based on an unreasonable interpretation of record evidence because the
tables and figures cited by the Commission do not illustrate a causal nexus between the prices of
the subject imports and the prices of the domestic industry, and the Commission did not consider
how the domestic supply shortage caused by the shutdown of the Baton Rouge plant in
December 2013 affected downward pricing pressure. Id. at 26–29.
The statute directs the Commission to consider the effect of imports and whether the
imports depress prices to a significant degree, and the imports need not be the sole cause of the
price depression. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677(7)(C)(ii); Hyundai Elecs. Indus. Co. v. United States, 21
CIT 481, 486 (1997). Plaintiffs’ arguments thus fail. First, the Commission addressed the
decline of subject import volume and market share in its analysis, but found that the “volume of
Consol. Court No. 17-00247 Page 17
cumulated subject imports is significant on an absolute basis and relative to apparent U.S.
consumption.” See Final ITC Determination at 21. Second, the prices of the subject imports
need not be the sole cause of the price depression but should depress prices or prevent price
increases “to a significant degree.” See 19 U.S.C. § 1677(7)(C)(ii). The Commission explained
that although “other factors contributed to the downward trend in prices, these cannot explain the
magnitude of the decline in prices of the domestic like product.” See Final ITC Determination at
24. The Commission did not explicitly make a finding regarding any supply shortage caused by
the plant closure in its price depression analysis, but it need not do so. See Calabrian Corp. v.
United States Int’l Trade Comm’n, 16 CIT 342, 350, 794 F. Supp. 377, 385 (1992) (The
Commission “is not required to make explicit findings with respect to all factors considered.”)
Because the Commission considered the volume and market share of the subject imports in its
price depression analysis, the court concludes that this analysis is supported by substantial
evidence.
Plaintiffs contend also that the Commission’s conclusion that the subject imports
depressed the conversion fee was contradicted by record evidence. See Pls. Br. 29–34. During
the period of investigation, purchasers informed domestic suppliers their prices were higher than
subject imports and requested that the suppliers meet the subject import prices and in order to do
so, purchasers negotiated cuts in the fixed conversion fee. See Final ITC Determination at 25–
26. Record evidence thus supports the Commission’s conclusion. The court finds that the
Commission’s conclusion that the subject imports depressed the conversion fee is supported by
substantial evidence.
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C. The Commission’s Impact Determination
As part of its material injury analysis, the Commission must consider “the impact of
[subject imports] on domestic producers of domestic like products, but only in the context of
production operations within the United States.” 19 U.S.C. § 1677(7)(B)(i)(III). The statute
specifies a number of factors that are relevant in determining whether subject imports have had
an adverse impact on domestic producers:
(I) actual and potential decline in output, sales, market share, gross profits,
operating profits, net profits, ability to service debt, productivity, return on
investments, return on assets, and utilization of capacity,
(II) factors affecting domestic prices,
(III) actual and potential negative effects on cash flow, inventories, employment,
wages, growth, ability to raise capital, and investment,
(IV) actual and potential negative effects on the existing development and
production efforts of the domestic industry, including efforts to develop a
derivative or more advanced version of the domestic like product, and
(V) in a proceeding under part II of this subtitle, the magnitude of the margin of
dumping.
Id. § 1677(7)(C)(iii). The Commission is directed to “evaluate all relevant economic factors . . .
within the context of the business cycle and conditions of competition that are distinctive to the
affected industry.” Id. No single factor is dispositive and “the significance to be assigned to a
particular factor is for the ITC to decide.” See S. Rep. No. 96–249, at 88 (1979), reprinted in
1979 U.S.C.C.A.N. 381, 474.
Plaintiffs contest the Commission’s final determination that the subject imports had a
significant impact on the domestic industry, and argue that the determination was not supported
by substantial evidence and otherwise not in accordance with the law. See Pls. Br. 34.
Plaintiffs’ chief complaint is that the Commission erred by failing to consider their cost-price
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squeeze argument, i.e., that it was Lion’s own business decisions, not the subject imports, that
caused the cost-price squeeze in the domestic market. See id. at 36–43. In other words,
Plaintiffs contend that the underselling and alleged price depression associated with subject
imports were not the sources of the domestic industry’s poor condition. See id. at 44.
The Commission “acknowledge[d] that intra-industry competition existed during the
period of investigation,” but found that “such competition d[id] not explain the significant
volume of cumulated subject imports, the significant underselling of the domestic like product by
cumulated subject imports, and the significant price depression caused by the cumulated subject
imports during this time period.” Final ITC Determination at 30. The Commission adequately
addressed the intra-industry competition and its analysis is supported by substantial evidence.
The Commission is not required to focus on one portion of the industry by making a
disaggregated analysis of material injury and thus did not have to focus its intra-industry
competition analysis at a granular level specific to the business data of Lion. See Calabrian
Corp., 16 CIT at 350, 794 F. Supp. at 385. The court concludes, therefore, that the
Commission’s impact determination also is in accordance with the law.
III. Negligibility
Imports are negligible “if such imports account for less than 3 percent of the volume of
all such merchandise imported into the United States in the most recent 12–month period for
which data are available that precedes the filing of the petition.” 19 U.S.C. § 1677(24)(A)(i)(I)
(emphasis added). The Commission “may make reasonable estimates on the basis of available
statistics” of the relevant import levels for purposes of deciding negligibility. Id. § 1677(24)(C).
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If the Commission determines that imports of the subject merchandise are negligible, the
investigation terminates with respect to those imports. See id. § 1673d(b)(1).
Synthos contests the Commission’s determination that Poland was not a negligible source
of ESBR imports and Poland’s inclusion in the Commission’s affirmative injury determination.
See Synthos Br. 2. Synthos contends that the Commission’s determination was unsupported by
substantial evidence and not in accordance with the law because the Commission did not retrieve
import data from the proprietary Customs records for two of the four tariff classifications (HTS
numbers 4002.19.0016 and 4002.60.0000) under which ESBR entered the United States, thus
underestimating the total imports of ESBR and overinflating Poland’s share of imports. See id.
at 7–8. The Commission explained its methodology, stating that U.S. import data “are based on
importer questionnaire responses that have been supplemented with official Commerce import
statistics on imports entering under HTS number 4002.19.0015 and, for Korea only, also under
HTS 4002.19.0019.” Final ITC Determination at 9 n.38. The questionnaire data accounted for
100 percent of subject imports from Brazil in 2016, 92.2 percent of imports of subject
merchandise from Korea, 100 percent of subject imports from Brazil in 2016, 92.2 percent of
subject imports from Poland, and 79.5 percent of imports of ESBR from nonsubject countries.
Id. The Commission reasoned that “[r]elying on such data supplemented with official import
statistics provides a more accurate measure of total imports” because the merchandise imported
under the two other classification headings (HTS numbers 4002.19.0016 and 4002.60.0000) was
done in error. Id. The questionnaire responses included the misclassified ESBR. See id. at IV-1
n.3 (“Other than imports under HTS number 4002.19.0015, two firms reported importing under
HTS number 4002.19.0019, one firm under 4002.19.0016, and one firm under 4002.60.0000.”).
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The Commission “rel[ied] on [this] data.” Id. at 9 n.38. Because the Commission’s analysis
included the misclassified ESBR that entered under the two tariff classifications at issue, it did
not need to include all imports that entered under those classifications. The court finds that the
Commission’s negligibility determination is supported by substantial evidence because it
included the misclassified ESBR. The Commission did not need to retrieve the import data from
the proprietary Customs records for all tariff headings at issue, and the court concludes that the
Commission’s negligibility determination is in accordance with the law.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the court concludes that: (1) the Commission’s findings
regarding the volume of subject imports is supported by substantial evidence; (2) the
Commission’s findings regarding price effects was supported by substantial evidence and in
accordance with the law; (3) the Commission’s findings regarding the impact of subject imports
was supported by substantial evidence and in accordance with the law; and (4) whether the
Commission’s determination that Poland was not a negligible source of subject imports was
supported by substantial evidence and in accordance with the law.
Judgment will be entered accordingly.
/s/ Jennifer Choe-Groves
Jennifer Choe-Groves, Judge
Dated: May 17, 2019
New York, New York