Legacy Classic Furniture, Inc. v. United States , 867 F. Supp. 2d 1321 ( 2012 )

Slip Op. 12-121
UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
LEGACY CLASSIC FURNITURE, INC.,
Plaintiff, Before: Gregory W. Carman, Judge
. v. Court No. 10-00352
UNITED STATES,
Defendant.
OPINION & ORDER
[Commerce’s Remand Results are remanded.]
Dated: September 19, 2012
Mark E. Pardo, Andrew T. Schutz, Max F. Schutzman, and Nikolas E. Takacs,
Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman & Klestadt, LLP, for Plaintiff.
Douglas G. Edelschick, Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil
Division, United States Department of Justice, of Washington, DC, for Defendant, and
Nathaniel J. Halvorson, Attorney, Office of the Chief Counsel for Import Administration,
United States Department of Commerce, of counsel. With them on the briefs were
Stuart F. Delery, Assistant Attorney General, Jeanne E. Davidson, Director, Claudia Burke,
Assistant Director.
CARMAN , JUDGE: Plaintiff Legacy Classic Furniture, Inc. (“Plaintiff” or “Legacy”)
disputes the results of the first court-ordered remand to the United States Department
of Commerce (“Commerce”) regarding a scope determination in the antidumping duty
order covering wooden bedroom furniture from China. Bedroom Furniture from the
Court No. 10-00352 Page 2
People’s Republic of China: Scope Ruling on Legacy Classic Furniture, Inc.’s Heritage Court
Bench (Nov. 22, 2010) (“Final Scope Ruling”); Notice of Amended Final Determination of
Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty Order: Wooden Bedroom Furniture from
the People’s Republic of China, 70 Fed. Reg. 329 (Jan. 4, 2005) (“WBF Order”). Pursuant to
Plaintiff’s motion for judgment on the agency record challenging Commerce’s Final
Scope Ruling, the Court sustained in part and remanded in part this case in Slip Opinion
11-157.1
In Legacy I, the Court sustained Commerce’s determination that the factors set
forth in 19 C.F.R. § 351.225(k)(1)2 are not dispositive but remanded for reconsideration
Commerce’s determination that the factors set forth in 19 C.F.R. § 351.225(k)(2)3 are
dispositive. Accordingly, the Court set aside Commerce’s determination that the
Heritage Court Bench fell within the scope of the WBF Order and instructed Commerce
to reconsider each of the factors listed under 19 C.F.R. § 351.225(k)(2) and to take into
account in its analysis all of the evidence on the record. Commerce issued its Final
Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Court Order (Mar. 26, 2012) (“Remand Results”),
affirming its original determination that the Heritage Court Bench is within the scope of
1
Legacy Classic Furniture v. United States, 35 CIT ___, 807 F. Supp. 2d 1353 (2011)
(“Legacy I”). The Court presumes familiarity with Legacy I.
2
Referred to as “(k)(1) factors” hereinafter.
3
Referred to as “(k)(2) factors” hereinafter.
Court No. 10-00352 Page 3
the WBF Order.
Upon review of the Remand Results, upon further examination of the record,
and upon further consideration of the unique circumstances presented in this case, the
Court reconsiders its initial decision regarding the (k)(1) factors and remands to
Commerce to explain its policy where general language in the scope section of an
antidumping duty order can be read to include the product at issue but other language
in the scope section specifically excludes the product at issue. The Court also remands
the (k)(2) factors because Commerce’s conclusion in its Remand Results that the Heritage
Court Bench is more like a chest than a bench is not supported by evidence on the
record.
BACKGROUND
The product at issue is Legacy’s Heritage Court Bench – a piece of furniture
that both sides agree serves simultaneously as a seating bench and a storage unit. It is
described as “a backless wooden seating bench measuring 50 inches wide by 19 inches
tall by 20 inches deep.” Final Scope Ruling at 2. The body of the bench is made from
“solid hardwood with Okume Mahogany veneers and a cocoa brown wood finish.” Id.It has a top that consists “entirely of a padded leather surface,” is attached by hinges to
the base, and has a cedar-lined interior storage area. Id. The scope of the WBF Order
includes only specified chests but explicitly excludes all seating furniture, including
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benches. Id. at 3.
Commerce evaluated whether the Heritage Court Bench was within the scope
of the WBF Order according to the factors and procedure set out in 19 C.F.R.
§ 351.225(k). Final Scope Ruling at 4. This regulation specifies that when Commerce is
“considering whether a particular product is included within the scope of an order,” it
will “take into account” the following factors: “(1) The descriptions of the merchandise
contained in the petition, the initial investigation, and the determinations of the
Secretary (including prior scope determinations) and the Commission.” 19 C.F.R.
§ 351.225(k)(1). Commerce determined that the (k)(1) factors were not dispositive. Final
Scope Ruling at 6. Thus Commerce proceeded to the next subsection of factors: “(i) [t]he
physical characteristics of the product; (ii) [t]he expectations of the ultimate purchasers;
(iii) [t]he ultimate use of the product; (iv) [t]he channels of trade in which the product is
sold; and (v) [t]he manner in which the product is advertised and displayed.” 19 C.F.R.
§ 351.225(k)(2). In its Remand Results, Commerce found that “the record is mixed with
respect to the criterion under 19 C.F.R. § 351.225(k)(2) (iv) and (v),” but “[did] not find
that this mixed record is enough to change the conclusions reached with respect to the
criterion under 19 C.F.R. § 351.225(k)(2)(i-iii).” Remand Results at 18.
Court No. 10-00352 Page 5
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c) (2006). For scope
determinations, the Court sustains determinations, findings or conclusions of
Commerce unless they are “unsupported by substantial evidence on the record, or
otherwise not in accordance with law.” 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(b)(1)(B)(i). Courts “look for a
reasoned analysis or explanation for an agency’s decision as a way to determine
whether a particular decision is arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of discretion.”
Wheatland Tube Co. v. United States, 161 F.3d 1365, 1369 (Fed. Cir. 1998) (“Wheatland
Tube”).
DISCUSSION
I. Redetermination of the (k)(2) Factors
This Court reviews Commerce’s Remand Results and corresponding comments.
Commerce conceded that the record is inconclusive for the two factors of (iv) channels
of trade and (v) manner displayed and advertised. Remand Results at 14-17. Therefore
Commerce made its redetermination upon the three factors of (i) physical
characteristics, (ii) customer expectations, and (iii) ultimate use. This Court reviews all
the factors upon which Commerce based its redetermination. Each factor will be
addressed in turn.
Court No. 10-00352 Page 6
A. Physical Characteristics of the Product
Regarding the factor of physical characteristics of the product, Commerce
determined that “the primary element of the product is its box structure and lid,
elements consistent with certain storage chests.” Remand Results at 7. Plaintiff
countered that “[t]he shape and height of the Heritage Court Bench and its other
physical characteristics are entirely consistent with those of a bench.” Pl.’s Comments
in Opp’n to Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Court Order (“Pl.’s Opp’n”) at
5. Further, Plaintiff advanced that “[t]he fact that the Heritage Court Bench would
continue to fulfill its primary function as a bench even without its storage component
supports the contrary position that its function as a bench is the primary element.” Pl.’s
Opp’n at 7. While it has a rectangular shape and the seat does function as a lid for the
storage area, the record clearly indicates that the Heritage Court Bench—case in point,
the name of the product—is undisputedly a bench. Commerce conceded that the
Heritage Court Bench “has some, albeit limited, attributes of an excluded product” (e.g.,
a bench) but nevertheless concluded that the product “possesses all of the physical
characteristics of a subject chest.” Remand Results at 7.
Upon review of the numerous definitions of the subject chests in the WBF
Order, contrary to Commerce’s conclusion, the Heritage Court Bench does not possess
all of the physical characteristics of any of the subject chests. In fact, the Heritage Court
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Bench only arguably fits into the residual provision of a footnoted definition of a
general chest. See WBF Order at 332, n.5. In contrast, the Heritage Court Bench not only
unambiguously falls under the explicit exclusion for a “bench” but also the basket
provision for all “seating furniture” under the list of items that is excluded from the
scope. Id. (“The scope of the Petition excludes . . . benches . . . and other seating
furniture.”)
In support of its conclusion, Commerce stated that
simply because one could sit on the product does not mean it should
principally be viewed as seating furniture that is excluded from the scope.
If that were the case, the language in the scope covering a large box with a
lid would be nullified because many boxes with a flat lid could be used for
seating even if they do not come with a padded leather covering.
Remand Results at 6. Commerce’s speculation is specious. First, the product at issue
does indeed have a padded leather covering so speculating that the scope language
would be nullified if a product did not have a padded leather covering is fallacious.
Determining that the Heritage Court Bench is outside of the scope will not open the
floodgate of exclusions to any product that can be sat upon. For example, a milk crate
can be sat upon but that does not make it seating furniture. The determinative factor is
that the furniture is designed for seating. The Heritage Court Bench is seating furniture
precisely and simply because it is designed with padded leather covering for seating.
The seating function is not incidental as Commerce insinuated in its conclusion. The
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record clearly indicates that seating is one of the main functions of the Heritage Court
Bench. Furthermore, the record also demonstrates that the padded leather covering is
one of the main design features of the product. The Court finds Commerce’s reasoning
that the seating function is incidental or secondary to the Heritage Court Bench to be
arbitrary and capricious. Therefore, Commerce’s conclusion that the most prominent
physical characteristic is the box with the lid must be remanded for further
consideration.
B. Expectations of the Ultimate Purchasers
Regarding the factor of customer expectations of the product, Commerce
admitted that there is “no direct evidence on the record regarding the expectations of
the ultimate purchasers.” Remand Results at 8 (quoting Final Scope Ruling at 10). Using
the same analysis from the Final Scope Ruling, Commerce submitted that
record evidence does not demonstrate that the oblong (rectangular) shape
and height of the product under consideration is necessarily atypical of the
type of storage chest that might be used at the end of a bed . . . . Moreover,
it is reasonable to believe that bedroom storage chests with lids that are used
at the end of beds would be wider than tall to be flush with the height and
width of typical beds.
Id. at 8-9. Plaintiff countered that Commerce ignored its advertisement stating “[t]he
Heritage Court Storage Bench offers timeless style and valuable storage for any room.
Place at the foot of your bed, in a hallway, or make this bench a part of your living room
ensemble.” Pl.’s Opp’n at 9 (quoting Scope Request, Ex. 9). Commerce claimed that
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“consumers can view the product on websites under a tab labeled ‘Seating’ or a tab
labeled ‘Bedroom.’” Remand Results at 9. Plaintiff countered, however, that under the
“Bedroom” tab, there is a “Benches” sub-tab, where the Heritage Court Bench is located.
Pl.’s Opp’n at 10. Plaintiff further pointed out that there is a separate tab for “Bedroom
Chests” and the Heritage Court Bench is not located there. Id. The Court agrees with
Plaintiff that Commerce disregarded evidence placed on the record by Plaintiff. From a
plain reading of the scope language, the Court recognizes that mere placement of
seating furniture in a bedroom does not remove it from the scope exclusion of the WBF
Order.
Plaintiff contended that the Heritage Court Bench has the dimensions typical
of a bench but atypical of a chest. Pl.’s Opp’n at 10. The Court agrees. The dimensions
listed in the scope of the WBF Order describe the subject chest as “a case piece taller than
it is wide,” but the Heritage Court Bench is just the opposite: a bench wider (50 inches)
than it is tall (19 inches). WBF Order at 332, n.5. Thus, Commerce’s conclusion that the
Heritage Court Bench has the dimensions typical of a subject chest is not supported by
the record. Rather there appears to be ample support on the record for Plaintiff’s
proposition that the Heritage Court Bench’s most prominent features are the “padded
leather top, the oblong shape and dimensions that make it suitable for one or more
individuals to sit.” Pl.’s Opp’n at 12. Therefore, the Court finds that the record
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evidence does not support Commerce’s conclusion that the customer expectations is for
storage over seating. Commerce’s determination must be remanded for further
consideration.
C. Ultimate Use of the Product
Regarding the factor of ultimate use of the product, similar to the previous
factor, Commerce again admitted that there is “no direct evidence on the record
regarding how purchasers are actually using the Heritage Court Bench.” Remand
Results at 10. In lieu of ultimate use, Commerce “examined the record for evidence of
the use for which the product was designed.” Id. Noting that it “is tasked with
determining whether the product in question is sufficiently similar to subject
merchandise and thus subject to the order—not whether the product has absolutely no
features in common with non-subject or excluded merchandise,” Commerce concluded
that “[w]hile the Heritage Court Bench does have a padded leather lid and could be
used for seating, this one ultimate use does not negate the ultimate uses of the Heritage
Court Bench that are similar to those of subject chests.” Remand Results at 12, 13.
As noted in the Court’s first decision, Commerce’s conclusion is based on an
“impression.” Legacy I, 807 F. Supp. 2d at 1359. It appears that Commerce has not fully
considered the record, as instructed, but rather remains mired in its position regarding
this factor. Plaintiff asserted that
Court No. 10-00352 Page 11
Commerce once again ignores substantial record evidence that the Heritage
Court Bench is designed to be used as a bench, which could be placed at the
foot of the bed or elsewhere in the house. Commerce presumes that the
storage capability of the Heritage Court Bench it is primary function with no
record support.
Pl.’s Opp’n at 14 (emphasis in original). Commerce even admitted that there is a “lack
of direct record evidence regarding the ultimate use of the product,” yet proceeded to
declare that the storage function supersedes the seating function of the product in the
absence of record evidence pertinent to this factor. Remand Results at 10. In the absence
of direct evidence of how customers actually use this product, the only reasonable way
to analyze this factor is to infer from the marketing evidence. The product is marketed
as a “bench” or “seating furniture” that can be placed in the bedroom. Pl.’s Opp’n at 14.
The fact that seating furniture can, and often is, located in the bedroom does not place it
within the scope of the WBF Order. It is unreasonable to conclude that customers seeing
a product marketed as a “bench” or “seating furniture” would primarily expect to use it
as a bedroom chest. Commerce apparently made its conclusion based on conjecture and
not on evidence, or even logical inference from the evidence. The Court finds that
Commerce’s conclusion that the Heritage Court Bench’s primary use is as a bedroom
chest is not supported by substantial evidence and must be remanded for further
consideration.
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D. Channels of Trade in Which the Product Is Sold
Regarding the factor of channels of trade in which the product is sold,
Commerce determined that “the evidence regarding this criterion by itself is not
dispositive on the issue” because record evidence demonstrates that the Heritage Court
Bench and similar products “are sold through different channels of trade from those
used for subject merchandise as well as through identical channels of trade as those
used for subject merchandise.” Remand Results at 14-15. Plaintiff claimed that “[w]hile
there may be some overlap between this channel of trade and the channel of trade for
subject bedroom furniture, the record establishes that the channels are not the same”
and that the Heritage Court Bench and similar products are “never identified as
bedroom chests and [are], instead, always grouped with other seating furniture.” Pl.’s
Opp’n at 18 (emphasis in original). The Court agrees with Plaintiff that, even if the
Heritage Court Bench is sold through overlapping channels of trade for subject wooden
bedroom furniture, it is still seating furniture, all of which is excluded. Therefore, the
Court remands this factor of the channels of trade to Commerce to consider all of the
record evidence.
E. The Manner in Which the Product Is Displayed and Advertised
Regarding the factor of the manner in which the product is displayed and
advertised, Commerce also determined that the record was inconclusive and thus not a
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dispositive factor. Remand Results at 17. Commerce found that “the majority of features
advertised about the Heritage Court Bench are the ones of a subject chest” but
acknowledged that “the ability to use the chest for seating is also advertised and the
product is labeled as a storage bench.” Id. at 17. Plaintiff advocated that “the Heritage
Court Bench is much more prominently advertised as a bench, and not a chest,” Pl.’s
Opp’n at 11, and asserted that “the record shows that storage benches are a widely
recognized type of bench that must be within the unqualified exclusion for all benches
and seating furniture,” Pl.’s Opp’n at 18. Further, Plaintiff declared that “Commerce
attempts to minimize record evidence showing that the Heritage Court Bench is
marketed and advertised as a bench.” Id. The Court agrees with Plaintiff. The subject
chest was never advertised as a chest; it was advertised as seating furniture or a storage
bench. Parsing the phrase “storage bench,” the Court analyzes that “storage” is merely
an adjective that modifies the noun “bench,” which is the focus of the phrase. The
record evidence supports Plaintiff’s assertion that the Heritage Court Bench is
indisputably a bench in terms of its marketing. Consequently, the Court remands this
factor of the manner in which the product is displayed and advertised for Commerce to
fully reconsider.
F. Remand of the (k)(2) Factors
In its Remand Results, Commerce concluded that the record is inconclusive for
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the two factors of (iv) channels of trade and (v) manner displayed and advertised and
therefore made its redetermination upon the three factors of (i) physical characteristics,
(ii) customer expectations, and (iii) ultimate use. Remand Results at 17-18. However,
Commerce conceded that there was “no direct evidence on the record”for the factors of
(ii) customer expectations and (iii) ultimate use. Remands Results at 8, 10. The Court
finds that Commerce’s Remand Results regarding the (k)(2) factors are based on
conjecture and assumption, not based on evidence in the record. Contrary to its
assertion that it “provided a robust explanation concerning how it weighed the
conflicting evidence in this case,” Def.’s Reply to Pl.’s Comments Concerning Remand
Results (“Def.’s Reply”) at 6, the Court finds that Commerce merely regurgitated its
original conclusions from the Final Scope Ruling without the requisite “reasoned analysis
or explanation for [its] decision” ordered by the Court in Legacy I and required by
Wheatland Tube, 161 F.3d at 1369.
Accordingly, similar to the results in Legacy I, the Court finds that the record
evidence does not support Commerce’s conclusions that the factors under 19 C.F.R. §
351.225(k)(2)(i-iii) are within the scope of the order. Further, considering the (k)(2)
factors—19 C.F.R. § 351.225(k)(2)(vi-v)—that Commerce found to be inconclusive, the
Court cannot find that Commerce took into account “the breadth of the record
evidence” as instructed in Legacy I, 807 F. Supp. 2d at 1358. Therefore, Commerce’s
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redetermination that the Heritage Court Bench is within the scope based on the (k)(2)
factors is unsustainable and must be set aside. The case is remanded for a second time
for consideration of the (k)(2) factors.
II. Reconsideration of the (k)(1) Factors
Given that the Heritage Court Bench appears to fall both in and out of the
scope language, making scope determination a vexed question for Commerce, the Court
returns to the basics of a scope determination and reconsiders the first step, the (k)(1)
factors, specifically taking another look at the scope language of the antidumping order.
The Court’s goal is to ensure that the final determination is arrived at through thorough
and proper consideration of the record, which did not happen here, by both this Court
in its original decision and by Commerce in its previous determinations. The Court
may reconsider its decision in an interim order “pursuant to its general authority, which
is recognized by USCIT Rule 54, to reconsider a non-final order prior to entering final
judgment.” Union Steel v. United States, 36 CIT ___, 836 F. Supp. 2d 1382, 1394 (2012);
USCIT R. 54(b).4 Upon further consideration, particularly the way the specific exclusion
interacts with the general inclusion, the Court is no longer convinced that the (k)(1)
4
USCIT Rule 54(b), in pertinent part, provides:
[A]ny order or other decision, however designated, that adjudicates fewer than all the
claims or the rights and liabilities of fewer than all the parties does not end the action
as to any of the claims or parties and may be revised at any time before the entry of
a judgment adjudicating all the claims and the parties rights and liabilities.
Court No. 10-00352 Page 16
factors are non-dispositive.
In a scope determination, the plain language of the order clarifies whether the
item at issue is unambiguously included or excluded in the scope. Novosteel SA v.
United States, 284 F.3d 1261, 1266 (Fed. Cir. 2002). It is well-established that the
cornerstone in any scope determination is the language of the order itself. Walgreen Co.
of Deerfield, IL v. United States, 620 F.3d 1350, 1357 (Fed. Cir. 2010). Commerce may not
impermissibly expand the scope of the order. Eckstrom Indus., Inc. v. United States, 254
F.3d 1068, 1072 (Fed. Cir. 2001). Issues regarding scope arise because “the descriptions
of subject merchandise contained in [Commerce’s] determinations must be written in
general terms.” 19 C.F.R. § 351.225(a). Accordingly, scope inclusions are written in
general terms and then specific exclusions are carved out from the general terms. Some
exclusions are qualified and some are not.
In Legacy I, this Court noted that the Final Scope Ruling determined that the
“Heritage Court Bench had characteristics of both a chest—which would be included
within the scope of the order—and also a bench—which would be excluded from the
order.” Legacy I, 807. F. Supp. 2d at 1356. While arguably falling under a residual
definition of a chest within the general scope language, the Heritage Court Bench is
unambiguously a bench or seating furniture as listed in the scope exclusions. WBF
Order at 332; see also Remand Results at 3, Pl.’s Opp’n at 2. Commerce acknowledged that
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the WBF Order defines chests but not benches. Remand Results at 3. Analyzing the scope
language, only certain specified chests are included in the scope, but all benches—in fact
all seating furniture—are unequivocally excluded from the scope. WBF Order at 332.
Because the scope language of an order starts with general inclusions and then
carves out specific exclusions, when a product is generally included in a residual
provision but yet specifically excluded from the scope, the specific should trump the
general. The purpose of the explicit exclusions is to narrow the expanse of the general
scope. Unequivocal exclusions are not loopholes; they are argued for and intentionally
omitted from the scope. Wheatland Tube, 161 F.3d at 1371. To “allow Commerce to
assess antidumping duties on products intentionally omitted from the ITC’s injury
investigation” would “frustrate the purpose of the antidumping laws.” Id. (citing 19
U.S.C. § 1673 (1994) (requiring an injury determination by the ITC before the imposition
of antidumping duties).
In the instant case, Plaintiff asserts that the product at issue is a “storage
bench” while Commerce avers that it is a “bedroom chest.” The scope language
includes various types of “chests.” Commerce argues the Heritage Court Bench falls
under the general category of chest, which is the fifth enumerated item of subject
merchandise under the scope language in the WBF Order: (5) chests-on-chests, highboys,
lowboys, chests of drawers, chests, door chests, chiffoniers, hutches and armoires. WBF
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Order at 332 (emphasis added). Every chest listed under number five includes a
footnote, which provides a narrative definition of the type of chest that is covered.
Commerce determined that the Heritage Court Bench fits under the following
definition:
A chest is typically a case piece taller than it is wide featuring a series of
drawers and with or without one or more doors for storing clothing. The
piece can either include drawers or be designed as a large box incorporating
a lid.
Id. at 332, n.5. Looking at the plain language, the Court notes that the Heritage Court
Bench is not “a case piece taller than it is wide featuring a series of drawers.”
Commerce determined, however, that the Heritage Court Bench fits squarely in the last
phrase “designed as a large box incorporating a lid.” Remand Results at 4. While the
Court agrees that the shape of the Heritage Court Bench resembles a large box, Plaintiff
has placed on the record that the Heritage Court Bench is designed as seating furniture
in the shape of a large box. Further, the Court notes that the plain reading of footnote 5
requires that a “case piece” be taller than it is wide, which does not encompass the
Heritage Court Bench, and then be designed as a large box incorporating a lid, which
generally describes the Heritage Court Bench. Moreover, the Court notes that the “lid”
is actually a padded leather bench designed as seating furniture.
While it ambiguously fits under the qualified definition of chest found in
footnote 5, the Heritage Court Bench unambiguously fits under the unqualified term
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“benches.” The scope specifically excludes benches, listed as the third item under the
first exclusion: “(1) Seats, chairs, benches, couches, sofas, sofa beds, stools and other
seating furniture.” WBF Order at 332 (emphasis added). The third enumerated item
under the first exclusion is “benches” and there is even a basket provision for all other
kinds of “seating furniture” under the scope exclusions, which highlights the intention
that all seating furniture is to be excluded from the scope. Id. The exclusion of sofabeds
provides insight that the key to the seating furniture exclusion is that an item—whether
or not it has a typical bedroom-type function—have a seating function. Plaintiff pointed
out that “the exclusion for benches (and other seating furniture) within the scope of the
WBF Order is unqualified” and argued that “Commerce cannot seek now to interpret
the WBF Order contrary to its plain terms.” Pl.’s Opp’n at 6. Plaintiff proffered that “all
the physical features of the Heritage Court Bench are consistent with that of a bench,
and that the cedar-lined storage area is merely one feature it shares in common with
some storage furniture.” Pl.’s Opp’n at 5. The Court agrees.
Commerce stated that it “has determined in the past that additional features
that do not change the primary nature of an ‘in-scope’ product do not serve to move
that product outside of the scope of the order.” Remand Results at 5 (quotations
omitted) (citing Color Television Receivers from Taiwan: Notice of Final Scope Ruling Couch
Master International Corporation, 63 Fed. Reg. 805, 806 (Jan. 7, 1998) (“Color TVs”)).
Court No. 10-00352 Page 20
However, Color TVs involved a product that was “neither specifically included . . . nor
excluded” while the product in the instant case is specifically excluded from the scope.
63 Fed. Reg. at 806. Therefore, Color TVs does not support Commerce’s position. When
a product is “specifically excluded from the antidumping duty order, that order could
not be interpreted to cover it.” Nippon Steel Corp. v. United States, 219 F.3d 1348 (Fed.
Cir. 2000) (explaining the holding of Wheatland Tube).
While this Court originally sustained Commerce’s determination that the (k)(1)
factors are not dispositive in Legacy I, upon review of the Remand Results and upon
further consideration, this Court remands this case for Commerce to reconsider the
application of both the (k)(1) and (k)(2) factors because Commerce’s Remand Results that
the Heritage Court Bench falls within the scope are not supported by evidence on the
record. The Court instructs Commerce to fully and objectively reconsider the record,
make redeterminations based on the evidence in the record, and consistent with this
opinion, and not merely repeat the original conclusions from the Final Scope Ruling.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby
ORDERED that Commerce’s determination that Legacy’s Heritage Court
Bench falls within the scope of the WBF Order is SET ASIDE, and it is further
ORDERED that Commerce’s determination that the factors set out in 19 C.F.R.
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§ 351.225(k)(1) are not dispositive of this scope determination is reopened for
reconsideration, and it is further
ORDERED that this case is remanded to Commerce with instructions to make
a redetermination that reconsiders scope language under 19 C.F.R. § 351.225(k)(1) in
light of the Court’s opinion, and it is further
ORDERED that this case is remanded to Commerce with instructions to make
a redetermination that reconsiders each of the factors set out in 19 C.F.R. § 351.225(k)(2)
in light of the Court’s opinion, and it is further
ORDERED that the results of this redetermination on remand shall be filed no
later than Thursday, November 15, 2012, and it is further
ORDERED that Plaintiff may file comments on such Remand Results, not to
exceed 20 pages, and that such comments shall be filed no later than Thursday,
December 13, 2012, and it is further
ORDERED that Defendant may file a reply to Plaintiff’s comments, not to
exceed 15 pages, and that such reply shall be filed no later than Thursday, January 10,
2013.
/s/ Gregory W. Carman
Gregory W. Carman, Judge
Dated: September 19, 2012
New York, New York