Sao Ta Foods Joint Stock Co. v. United StatesPublic version posted 09/23/2020. , 2020 CIT 135 ( 2020 )

Slip Op. 20-135
UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
SAO TA FOODS JOINT STOCK
COMPANY ET AL.,
Plaintiffs and Consolidated
Plaintiff,
v. Before: Claire R. Kelly, Judge
UNITED STATES, Consol. Court No. 18-00205
PUBLIC VERSION
Defendant,
and
AD HOC SHRIMP TRADE ACTION
COMMITTEE,
Defendant-Intervenor and
Consolidated Defendant-
Intervenor.
OPINION AND ORDER
[Remanding the U.S. Department of Commerce’s remand results in the twelfth
administrative review of the antidumping duty order covering certain frozen
warmwater shrimp from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.]
Dated: September 15, 2020
Matthew R. Nicely and Daniel M. Witkowski, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld
LLP, of Washington, DC, for plaintiffs Sao Ta Foods Joint Stock Company, a.k.a.
Fimex VN, et al.
Ethan P. Davis, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Commercial Litigation Branch,
Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice, of Washington, DC, for defendant. With
him on the brief were Jeanne E. Davidson, Director, Patricia M. McCarthy, Assistant
Director, and Kara M. Westercamp, Trial Attorney. Of counsel was Kirrin Hough,
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Attorney, International Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement &
Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, of Washington, D.C..
Nathaniel Maandig Rickard and Zachary J. Walker, Picard, Kentz & Rowe, LLP, of
Washington, DC, for defendant-intervenor Ad Hoc Shrimp Trade Action Committee
Kelly, Judge: Before the court is the U.S. Department of Commerce’s
(“Commerce”) remand redetermination filed pursuant to the court’s order in Sao Ta
Foods Joint Stock Co. v. United States, 44 CIT __, 425 F. Supp. 3d 1314 (2020) (“Sao
Ta I”). See also Redetermination Pursuant to Ct. Remand Order in [Sao Ta I], Apr.
30, 2020, ECF No. 74 (“Remand Results”). In Sao Ta I, the court sustained in part
and remanded in part Commerce’s final determination in the twelfth administrative
review 1 of the antidumping duty (“ADD”) order covering certain frozen warmwater
shrimp from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (“Vietnam”). See Certain Frozen
Warmwater Shrimp From [Vietnam], 83 Fed. Reg. 46,704 (Dep’t Commerce Sept. 14,
2018) (final results of [ADD] admin. review, 2016–2017), and accompanying Issues &
Decision Memo. for the Final Results, Sept. 7, 2018, A-552-802, (Sept. 7, 2018), ECF
No. 45 (“Final Decision Memo.”).
Relevant here, in Sao Ta I, the court remanded Commerce’s denial of separate
rate status to the factory names “Frozen Seafoods Factory No. 32” and “Seafoods and
Foodstuffs Factory” for further explanation or consideration. See Sao Ta I, 44 CIT at
1 The twelfth administrative review covers the period February 1, 2016 through
January 31, 2017. See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Admin.
Reviews, 82 Fed. Reg. 17,188, 17,194–96 (Dep’t Commerce Apr. 10, 2017).
Consol. Court No. 18-00205 Page 3
PUBLIC VERSION
__, 425 F. Supp. 3d at 1328–32. On remand, Commerce continues to deny separate
rate status, providing additional explanation. See Remand Results at 1, 5–38.
Plaintiffs Sao Ta Foods Joint Stock Company, a.k.a. Fimex VN (“Fimex”), et al.
(collectively, “Vietnamese Respondents”) challenge Commerce’s Remand Results as
unsupported by substantial evidence and as arbitrary and capricious. See Pls.’
Confidential Cmts. on [Remand Results] at 4–32, June 5, 2020, ECF No. 78 (“Pls.’
Br.”). Defendant and Defendant-Intervenor Ad Hoc Shrimp Trade Action Committee
(“AHSTAC”) request the court to sustain the Remand Results. See Def.’s Resp. Cmts.
Regarding [Remand Results] at 15–25, July 8, 2020, ECF No. 85 (“Def.’s Br.”); Def.-
Intervenor [AHSTAC’s] Resp. to [Pls.’ Br.] at 4–19, July 8, 2020, ECF No. 84 (“Def.-
Intervenor’s Br.”). For the reasons that follow, the court remands Commerce’s
Remand Results.
BACKGROUND
The court assumes familiarity with the facts of this case, as set out in its
previous opinion ordering remand, see Sao Ta I, 44 CIT at __, 425 F. Supp. 3d at
1319–20, and recounts those facts relevant to the court’s review of the Remand
Results. In this twelfth administrative review of the ADD order covering certain
frozen warmwater shrimp from Vietnam, Commerce denied separate rate (“SR”)
status to two factory names of Thuan Phuoc Seafoods and Trading Corporation
(“Thuan Phuoc”), “Frozen Seafoods Factory No. 32” and “Seafoods and Foodstuffs
Factory,” because neither name was listed on their respective valid business
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PUBLIC VERSION
registration certificates (“BRCs”). 2 See Decision Memo. for Prelim. Results of [ADD]
Admin. Review at 9–10, A-552-802, PD 224, bar code 3679553-02 (Mar. 5, 2018);
Names Not Granted [SR] Status at the Prelim. Results at 4, PD 225, bar code
3679580-01 (Mar. 5, 2018) (“Trade Names Memo.”); 3 Final Decision Memo. at 16–23.
In Sao Ta I, the court held Commerce’s determination that Thuan Phuoc’s
factories did not qualify for SR status was unsupported by substantial evidence,
because Commerce failed to consider the documentary evidence included with Thuan
Phuoc’s SRC, i.e., copies of the factories’ BRCs and invoices, and explain why, in view
of that evidence, the factory names did not qualify as trade names of Thuan Phuoc.
See id., 44 CIT at __, 425 F. Supp. 3d at 1329–31. On remand, Commerce continues
to find that neither factory qualifies for an SR because the factory names are not
trade names of Thuan Phuoc and finds that the factories are independent exporters.
See Remand Results at 6–12, 17–21.
2The factory names were identified on sales documents. See Trade Names Memo. at
4.
3 On November 13, 2018, Defendant filed indices to the public and confidential
administrative records underlying Commerce’s final determination on the docket at
ECF Nos. 19-2–3. Subsequently, on May 13, 2020, Defendant filed indices to the
administrative record underlying Commerce’s remand redetermination on the docket
at ECF No. 75. Citations to the administrative record in this opinion are to the
numbers Commerce assigned to such documents in the indices.
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JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
The court has jurisdiction pursuant to section 516A(a)(2)(B)(iii) of the Tariff
Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(a)(2)(B)(iii) (2012) 4 and 28 U.S.C.
§ 1581(c) (2012), which grant the court authority to review actions contesting the final
determination in an administrative review of an ADD order. The court will uphold
Commerce’s determination unless it is “unsupported by substantial evidence on the
record, or otherwise not 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 court’s remand order.’” Xinjiamei Furniture (Zhangzhou) Co. v.
United States, 38 CIT __, __, 968 F. Supp. 2d 1255, 1259 (2014) (quoting Nakornthai
Strip Mill Public Co. v. United States, 32 CIT 1272, 1274, 587 F. Supp. 2d 1303, 1306
(2008)).
DISCUSSION
Vietnamese Respondents challenge Commerce’s denial of SR status to Thuan
Phuoc’s factory names “Frozen Seafoods Factory No. 32” and “Seafoods and
Foodstuffs Factory” as unsupported by substantial evidence and arbitrary and
capricious, because Commerce failed to address record evidence demonstrating that
the factories and Thuan Phuoc are the same company as instructed by the court’s
opinion ordering remand. See Pls.’ Br. at 4–12; 24–25. In addition, Vietnamese
4 Further citations to the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, are to the relevant
provisions of Title 19 of the U.S. Code, 2012 edition.
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Respondents contend that Commerce abandoned its prior practice that allowed
factories which are part of the same company to establish their eligibility for a
separate rate as trade names of that company. Id. at 13–24, 26. Defendant and
Defendant-Intervenor counter that Commerce reasonably evaluated the record
evidence and acted in accordance with its prior practice. See Def.’s Br. at 15–22; Def.-
Intervenor’s Br. at 11–17. 5 For the reasons that follow, Commerce’s denial of SR
status to Thuan Phuoc’s factory names on this record is unreasonable and its change
in practice regarding trade names is arbitrary and capricious.
5 Defendant-Intervenor and Defendant also urge the court to ignore Vietnamese
Respondents’ request that the court also consider arguments presented in their case
brief before the agency. See Def.’s Br. at 15–16; Def.-Intervenor’s Br. at 5–8.
Generally, “arguments not raised in the opening brief are waived.” SmithKline
Beecham Corp. v. Apotex Corp., 439 F.3d 1312, 1319 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (citing Cross
Med. Prods., Inc. v. Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Inc., 424 F.3d 1293, 1320–21 n.3 (Fed.
Cir. 2005)). Likewise, arguments raised in a “perfunctory manner” are also deemed
waived. Home Prods. Int’l, Inc. v. United States, 837 F. Supp. 2d 1294, 1301, 36 CIT
665, 673 (2012) (citing United States v. Zannino, 895 F.2d 1, 17 (1st Cir. 1990))
(internal quotations omitted). Therefore, the court declines to consider those
arguments that Vietnamese Respondents attempt to incorporate by reference from
their case brief yet fail to develop in their opening brief to the court. See, e.g., id., 837
F. Supp. 2d at 1301, 36 CIT at 673–74 (denying a motion to reconsider its decision to
deem plaintiff’s “threadbare” argument waived and noting that plaintiff could have
requested additional pages to develop its argument).
The court, likewise, declines to review the attachments to Vietnamese
Respondent’s brief as well as its reference to websites, because that information does
not appear in the administrative record. See Pls.’ Br. at 10 n.39, 15 n.56, 16 n.57,
Attach. A–B. Judicial review is generally limited to the full administrative record
before the agency at the time it rendered its decision, see Citizens to Preserve Overton
Park, Inc. v. Volpe, 401 U.S. 402, 420 (1971); otherwise, reviewing extra-record
evidence could convert the court’s standard of review into de novo review. See Axiom
Res. Mgmt, Inc. v. United States, 564 F.3d 1374, 1380 (Fed. Cir. 2009).
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PUBLIC VERSION
When Commerce investigates subject merchandise from a non-market
economy (“NME”) country, such as Vietnam, Commerce presumes that the
government controls export-related decision-making of all companies operating
within that NME. Import Admin., [Commerce], Separate-Rates Practice and
Application of Combination Rates in Antidumping Investigations involving [NME]
Countries, Pol’y Bulletin 05.1 at 1 (Apr. 5, 2005) (“Policy Bulletin 05.1”), available at
http://enforcement.trade.gov/policy/bull05-1.pdf (last visited Sept. 10, 2020); see also
Antidumping Methodologies in Proceedings Involving [NME] Countries: Surrogate
Country Selection and [SRs], 72 Fed. Reg. 13,246, 13,247 (Dep’t Commerce Mar. 21,
2007) (request for comment) (stating the Department’s policy of presuming control
for companies operating within NME countries); Sigma Corp. v. United States, 117
F.3d 1401, 1405 (Fed. Cir. 1997) (approving Commerce’s use of the presumption).
Commerce assigns an NME-wide rate, unless a company successfully demonstrates
an absence of government control, both in law (de jure) and in fact (de facto)). Policy
Bulletin 05.1 at 1–2. 6
6 Commerce examines the following factors to evaluate de facto control: “whether the
export prices are set by, or subject to the approval of, a governmental authority;”
“whether the respondent has authority to negotiate and sign contracts and other
agreements;” “whether the respondent has autonomy from the central, provincial and
local governments in making decisions regarding the selection of its management;”
and, “whether the respondent retains the proceeds of its export sales and makes
independent decisions regarding disposition of profits or financing of losses.” Policy
(footnote continued)
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To establish independence from governmental control, a company submits a
separate rate application (“SRA”) or a separate rate certification (“SRC”) (collectively,
“separate rate forms”). 7 Policy Bulletin 05.1 at 3–4; see also Pls.’ Confidential Memo.
Supp. R. 56.2 Mot. J. Agency R. at Annex 2 (“SRA”), Annex 3 (“SRC”), Mar. 15, 2019,
ECF No. 29. Under Commerce’s separate rate policy, recounted in Policy Bulletin
05.1 (“policy”), each company that exports subject merchandise to the United States
must submit its own individual SRA, “regardless of any common ownership or
affiliation between firms[.]” Policy Bulletin 05.1 at 5. Commerce limits its
consideration to only companies that exported subject merchandise to the United
States during the period of investigation or review. 8 Id. at 4–5. In addition,
applicants must identify affiliates in the NME that exported to the United States
during the period of investigation or review and provide documentation
Bulletin 05.1 at 2. With respect to de jure control, Commerce considers three factors:
“an absence of restrictive stipulations associated with an individual exporter’s
business and export licenses;” “any legislative enactments decentralizing control of
companies;” and, “any other formal measures by the government decentralizing
control of companies.” Id.
7Firms that currently hold an SR submit an SRC, while firms that do not hold an SR
or have had changes to corporate structure, ownership, or official company name
submit an SRA. See SRA at 2. Both forms request similar information. Relevant
here, in an SRC, like an SRA, an applicant provides information and supporting
documentation that it is not subject to NME control. See, e.g., Final Decision Memo.
at 19.
8Although Policy Bulletin 05.1 refers to investigations, the SRA and SRC, which
apply to investigations and reviews, incorporate Policy Bulletin 05.1 by reference.
See, e.g., SRA at 2.
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demonstrating that the same name in its SR request appears both on the business
registration certification (“BRC”) and on shipments declared to U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (“CBP”). Id. at 4–5. The separate rate forms reflect these
requirements. Question two of the SRA, like question seven of the SRC, asks whether
the applicant “is identified by any other names . . . (i.e., does the company use trade
names)” and requests applicants to provide BRCs and “evidence that these names
were used during the [period of investigation or review].” See SRA at 10; see also
SRC at 7. The SRA and SRC instructions define a “trade name” as a “name[] under
which the company does business.” SRA at 10 n.3; SRC at 7 n.3.
Thuan Phuoc established its eligibility for a separate rate, see Remand Results
at 6, and, in its SRC, also requested that its factories’ names, “Frozen Seafoods
Factory No. 32” and “Seafoods and Foodstuffs Factory,” be granted SR status. See
[SRC] of [Thuan Phuoc], PD 71, bar code 3572148-01 (May 15, 2017) (“Thuan Phuoc
SRC”). Specifically, in its SRC, Thuan Phuoc had indicated the factories were under
common ownership, identified them as trade names of Thuan Phuoc, and provided
BRCs and export documentation. 9 See id. at 1–8. As the court noted in its prior
9Although, in the narrative portion of the SRC, Thuan Phuoc did not call the factories’
names “trade names” or d/b/a names—instead referring to them as “separate
factories” or “branch factories”—it checked off the form's boxes indicating that it
sought SR status for these factory names through the conduit of “trade names.” See
generally Thuan Phuoc SRC. Thuan Phuoc also entitled one table column with “trade
names,” and listed the factory names within that category, in its response to question
eight of the SRC. See id. at 6–7.
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opinion ordering remand, if the two factory names are names under which Thuan
Phuoc does business, “then Commerce’s finding that Thuan Phuoc operates
independently of the government in its export activities would extend to these
factories and their trade names” according to Commerce’s policy. See Sao Ta I, 44
CIT at __, 425 F. Supp. 3d at 1329.
Commerce continues to unreasonably deny SR status to Thuan Phuoc’s factory
names. On remand, Commerce now asserts that the factories’s status as independent
exporters, even if divisions of Thuan Phuoc, deprives them of the ability to benefit
from Thuan Phuoc’s SR status as trade names. 10 Irrespective of the legal structure
of a company, Commerce takes the position that any division of a company, a separate
branch, or a separate facility that acts as its own independent exporter—i.e., “is
licensed to produce and export separately”—cannot be a trade name of that company.
Id. at 24–27. 11 Commerce offers no explanation for this approach. Indeed, this
10Previously, Commerce focused narrowly on the instructions to the SRA, which
define a “trade name” as “other names under which the company does business[,]”
exclusive of “names of any other entities in the firm’s ‘group,’ affiliated or
otherwise[,]” and determined that the factories were separate companies part of
Thuan Phuoc’s “group” rather than trade names of Thuan Phuoc. See Final Decision
Memo. at 18, 22–23.
11 Throughout the Remand Results, Commerce criticizes Thuan Phuoc for self-
bestowing “single-entity” status. See Remand Results at 14–17. According to
Commerce, only Commerce, not an exporter, may make single-entity determinations.
Id. at 15. Commerce, however, conflates two distinct concepts. Commerce grants
(footnote continued)
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PUBLIC VERSION
position seems to be inconsistent with its policy and the instructions to the SRA and
SRC. Commerce’s policy as well as the instructions to the SRA and SRC focus on
whether a firm’s export activities are sufficiently independent from the NME to
qualify for an SR and recognize that a company may do business under one or more
names. See Policy Bulletin 05.1 at 1–2; SRA at 10 n.3; SRC at 7 n.3. As a result,
Commerce’s policy, reflected in the SRA and SRC instructions, affords SR status to
those trade names so long as the same name in the company’s SR request appears
both on the business registration certification and on commercial shipments. See
SRA at 10 n.3; SRC at 7 n.3; see also Policy Bulletin 05.1 at 4–5. Here, however,
rather than determining whether the asserted trade names “identify the exporter by
its legal business name” and whether they “match the name that appears on the
exporter’s business license/registration documents[,]” see Policy Bulletin 05.1 at 4–5;
SRA at 10 n.3; SRC at 7 n.3, Commerce relies on the commercial BRCs and
commercial documentation to assert the factory names are “separate exporters” that
must, themselves, apply for a separate rate. See Remand Results at 7–12, 24–25.
trade names separate rate status because those are the additional names under
which a firm, that successfully rebuts the presumption of governmental control, also
does business. See generally Policy Bulletin 05.1; see also SRA at 10 n.3; SRC at 7
n.3. By contrast, Commerce will treat affiliated companies as a single entity—or a
collapsed entity—for the purposes of calculating a dumping margin when producers
are sufficiently intertwined with non-producers that would lead to the ability to shift
sales or production as to evade AD duties. See 19 C.F.R. § 351.401(f); see e.g., Rebar
Trade Action Coal. v. United States, 43 CIT __, __, 398 F. Supp. 3d 1359, 1367–68
(2019).
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PUBLIC VERSION
Commerce, in characterizing the factories as “separate exporters,” offers no definition
for that term nor identifies where in the statute or regulations it bases the distinction
it seeks to capture with this term. It may be that Commerce can point to both
authority and rationale to support the distinction but the court will not speculate on
its behalf. Commerce should state its position and explain why its approach is
reasonable and how it squares with its policy as well as the SRA and SRC
instructions. Cf. Policy Bulletin 05.1 at 4–5; SRA at 10 n.3; SRC at 7 n.3.
In addition, there is reason to doubt this approach represents Commerce’s
current practice and, if it were Commerce’s current practice, that Commerce provided
adequate explanation or notice of a change in its practice. See Motor Vehicle Mfrs.
Ass'n of the United States, Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Ins. Co., 463 U.S. 29, 57 (1983)
(“an agency changing its course must supply a reasoned analysis”) (internal quotation
and citation omitted); see also Nippon Steel Corp. v. U.S. Int’l Trade Comm’n, 494
F.3d 1371, 1377 n.5 (Fed. Cir 2007). Commerce implies that its approach is not new,
explaining that it misapplied its practice when it granted SR status to the factories
in prior reviews, which it subsequently corrected in this and the twelfth
administrative reviews. See Remand Results at 12, 29–30. 12 Commerce points to its
12Even though Commerce refers to the grant of SR status to Seaprimexco Vietnam
and its trade name as an example of the correct application of its policy in this
administrative review, see Remand Results at 20–21, it is unclear why Thuan Phuoc’s
(footnote continued)
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statement in the issues and decision memoranda for the tenth administrative review,
in which it denied SR status to Thuan Phuoc’s trade names, as providing notice of its
practice: “[I]f Thuan Phuoc included these names as trade names but these names
are, in fact separate companies or ‘branches,’ they are equally ineligible for separate
rate status[.]” See id. at 30 n.102, 33 n.107 (citing Certain Frozen Warmwater
Shrimp from [Vietnam]: Issues and Decision Memo. for the Final Results at 80, A-
552-802, (Sept. 6, 2016), available at
https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/summary/vietnam/2016-21882-1.pdf (last visited
Sept. 10, 2020) (“AR10 Decision Memo.”)). 13 See AR10 Decision Memo. at 80. It is
unclear how Commerce’s caution regarding separate companies or branches provides
factories would not, too, qualify for SR status, when, like Seaprimexco, Thuan Phuoc’s
factory names appear on BRCs and commercial documentation. Compare Thuan
Phuoc SRC with Resp. from Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP to Sec of Commerce
Pertaining to Seaprimexco Supp SRC Resp. at 1, PD 143, bar code 3584546-01 (June
23, 2017) (stating that “Seaprimexco Vietnam” and “Seaprimexco” both appear on
invoices).
13 Commerce faults Thuan Phuoc for failing to file separate SRAs for its two factories
and instead for submitting one SRC covering the two factory names. See Remand
Results at 13–14. Commerce implies Thuan Phuoc’s SRC is inappropriate because it
had determined that the factories were separate from Thuan Phuoc in the tenth
administrative review. Id. However, in that review, Commerce merely declined to
consider the factory names as trade names because Thuan Phuoc had not provided
the required commercial documentation. See AR10 Decision Memo. at 80. The SRC
instructions indicate that “changes to trade names are allowed” and that “[o]nly
changes to the official company name . . . require the filing of an [SRA].” See SRC at
2.
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any insight to its finding, here, that the branch factories are separate exporters. 14 It
may be that Commerce now views a distinctly named factory as a distinct company
that is, as a consequence, its own exporter. However, that view is not discernible
from Commerce’s statement. Fairness demands that Commerce provide adequate
notice, and it cannot be reasonably said that a statement, framed as a hypothetical,
conveys a change in practice or a reason for that change. See Shikoku Chemicals
Corp. v. United States, 16 CIT 382, 388, 795 F. Supp. 417, 421–22 (1992); see also
Huvis Corp. v. United States, 31 CIT 1803, 1811, 525 F. Supp. 2d 1370, 1378 (2007).
Instead, as a result of Commerce granting the factories SR status as trade names of
Thuan Phuoc in prior reviews, Thuan Phuoc relied upon Commerce’s consistent
application of that practice—even if, as Commerce asserts, it was consistently
misapplied. See Remand Results at 29–30, 33; see also Pls.’ Br. at 21–22. Cf. Shikoku
Chemicals Corp., 16 CIT at 388, 795 F. Supp. at 421–422 (concluding that
“[p]rinciples of fairness prevent Commerce from changing its methodology” when it
had used the methodology in prior reviews and plaintiffs relied upon that
methodology). Commerce’s failure to appraise interested parties of its new approach
14Although the court does not opine whether Commerce has discretion to adopt this
new approach, Commerce’s hypothetical statement falls short in either explaining a
new approach and or providing adequate notice. Commerce may change its practice
in certain circumstances so long as it explains why it is changing course and the
explanation is in accordance with law and supported by substantial evidence. See,
e.g., Cultivos Miramonte, S.A. v. United States, 21 CIT 1059, 1064, 980 F. Supp. 1268,
1274 (1997).
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and its rationale is arbitrary and capricious. See, e.g., Huvis Corp., 31 CIT at 1814,
525 F. Supp. 2d at 1381 (holding that Commerce’s change in practice was arbitrary
and capricious because it failed to provide sufficient rationale). 15
Finally, Commerce must explain how it evaluates record evidence in light of
its approach. Commerce’s policy, as well as the SRA and SRC instructions, requires
each SR applicant to provide the name of the exporting entity, and any trade name(s)
under which it may export, as identified in its BRC, and demonstrate that such entity
name and/or trade name(s) match the name on documents for declared shipments to
CBP. See Policy Bulleting 05.1 at 5; see also SRA at 10; SRC at 7. Here, although
Commerce considers copies of the factories’ BRCs, each entitled “Certificate of
Activities Registration and Tax Registration of Branch” (“branch certifications”), that
15 Although Commerce must give adequate notice of a change in practice, Commerce
need not inform the parties of deficiencies in submissions, unless those submissions
are responses to requests for information. Vietnamese Respondents are mistaken to
suggest that Commerce was required under 19 U.S.C. § 1677m(d) to provide notice to
Thuan Phuoc that its SRC would not also serve as the SRA for its factories and,
further, to consider information on the record to nonetheless determine whether the
factories were entitled to SR status pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1677m(e). See Pls.’ Br.
at 26–32. These arguments are unavailing. Section 1677m(d) requires Commerce to
notify a respondent of a deficient “response to a request for information[,]” and section
1677m(e) requires Commerce to consider information necessary to a determination
submitted by an interested party under certain circumstances. 19 U.S.C. § 1677m(d)–
(e). By contrast, a company submits a separate rate application voluntarily so to
rebut a presumption of governmental control and avoid an NME-wide rate. See
Sigma, 117 F.3d at 1405; see also Policy Bulletin 05.1. Commerce may disregard SRAs
when the information submitted is unreliable or deficient, so long as that
determination is based on substantial evidence. See, e.g., Fresh Garlic Producers
Ass’n v. United States, 39 CIT __, __, 121 F. Supp. 3d 1313, 1328 (2015).
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Thuan Phuoc included with its application, see Thuan Phuoc SRC at Ex. 1, as well as
the commercial invoices on the record, Commerce examines that record evidence to
establish that the factories are separate exporters and therefore not trade names of
Thuan Phuoc. Commerce concludes that the factories export under their own licenses
because the factory names recorded on Thuan Phuoc’s BRC do not match the names
indicated on the branch certifications. 16 See Remand Results at 6 n.25, 7–8. 17
Further, Commerce finds that the separate bank account numbers and Food and
Drug Administration facility registration numbers on the commercial invoices
16Commerce does not respond to Vietnamese Respondents’ argument, raised in their
case brief, that the discrepancy may be due to a translation error, compare Remand
Results at 23 (summarizing Vietnamese Respondent’s argument that the Vietnamese
names of the factories match) with id. at 23–30, nor consider evidence concerning the
BRC and branch certifications that suggest the factories are trade names or “names
under which the company does business.” See SRA at 10 n.3. Specifically, each
branch certification identifies Thuan Phuoc as the “[n]ame of the enterprise,” lists
Thuan Phuoc’s business registration number [[ ]],
and designates each
factory as having the same address as Thuan Phuoc, which, taken together, suggest
that the factories are divisions of Thuan Phuoc. See Thuan Phuoc SRC at Ex. 1. In
addition, unlike Thuan Phuoc’s BRC, the branch certifications do not have sections
regarding registered capital, abbreviated names, or shareholders, which, similarly,
signpost that the factories are not independent entities. See id. Commerce does not
examine these aspects of the BRC and branch certifications.
17As a secondary reason why the factories are separate from Thuan Phuoc, Commerce
observes the branch certifications identify distinct “heads of branch.” See Remand
Results at 10. However, in doing so, Commerce offers no further explanation to
substantiate its conclusion. See id.
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PUBLIC VERSION
indicate the factories are their own exporters. See Remand Results at 10. 18
Commerce’s policy does not indicate that it will evaluate the invoices for any purpose
beyond confirming use of trade names during the period of review. 19 See generally
Policy Bulletin 05.1; SRA; SRC. Rather, by evaluating the record evidence to
ascertain whether the factories are separate exporters, Commerce abandons the
inquiry it had set forth in its policy and the SRA and SRC instructions. Cf. Policy
Bulletin 05.1 at 2; SRA at 10; SRC at 7–8. On remand, Commerce must not only state
and explain its practice as discussed but must also clarify why, based on the record,
inclusive of detracting evidence, it concludes the factories are not trade names of
Thuan Phuoc.
18On remand, Commerce should reconcile its treatment of Thuan Phuoc with other
exporters in this administrative review. Specifically, Commerce should consider
whether, as Vietnamese Respondents allege, Commerce acts arbitrarily in viewing
Thuan Phuoc’s separate bank account numbers as probative of separate exporter
status when it found other firms’ factory names to be trade names of those firms
notwithstanding the use of multiple bank accounts. See Pls.’ Br. at 7–8.
19Commerce avers that there is “no information on the record from any licensing
authority” that indicate the factories comprise the same company, Thuan Phuoc, see
Remand Results at 17–18, but it does not address evidence of the Vietnamese
Enterprise Law that Fimex placed on the record. See Resp. from Hughes Hubbard &
Reed LLP to Sec Commerce Pertaining to Fimex VN Sec A QR at Ex. A-2, PD 115–
16, bar codes 3580626-01–02 (June 12, 2017). The Vietnamese Enterprise Law
defines “enterprise” and “branch” as well as sets forth business registration
requirements, which indicate that branches do not have a separate corporate
existence. See, e.g., id. at Ex. A-2 at Arts. 4.7, 45, 46. In addition, Commerce implies
that the definition of an “enterprise” under Vietnamese law may not accord with the
application of U.S. antidumping laws. See Remand Results at 18. Commerce fails to
explain why and how the U.S. antidumping statute’s definitions are relevant and
why, under either U.S. or Vietnamese law, it is reasonable to infer that the branches
are separate entities from Thuan Phuoc.
Consol. Court No. 18-00205 Page 18
PUBLIC VERSION
CONCLUSION
In accordance with the foregoing, it is
ORDERED that Commerce’s final determination with respect to the denial of
separate rate status to the names ‘‘Frozen Seafoods Factory No. 32’’ and ‘‘Seafoods
and Foodstuffs Factory’’ is remanded for further explanation or consideration
consistent with this opinion; and it is further
ORDERED that Commerce shall file its remand redetermination with the
court within 90 days of this date; and it is further
ORDERED that the parties shall have 30 days thereafter to file comments on
the remand redetermination; and it is further
ORDERED that the parties shall have 30 days to file their replies to
comments on the remand redetermination; and it is further
ORDERED that the parties shall have 14 days thereafter to file the Joint
Appendix; and it is further
ORDERED that Commerce shall file the administrative record within 14 days
of the date of filing of its remand redetermination.
/s/ Claire R. Kelly
Claire R. Kelly, Judge
Dated: September 15, 2020
New York, New York