Bosun Tools Co. v. United States , 2020 CIT 97 ( 2020 )


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  •                                 Slip Op. 20-97
    UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
    BOSUN TOOLS CO., LTD. and
    CHENGDU HUIFENG NEW MATERIAL
    TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.,
    Plaintiff and Consolidated
    Plaintiff,
    DANYANG NYCL TOOLS
    MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. ET AL.,
    Plaintiff-Intervenors,
    Before: Claire R. Kelly, Judge
    v.
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102
    UNITED STATES,
    Defendant,
    and
    DIAMOND SAWBLADES
    MANUFACTURERS’ COALITION,
    Defendant-Intervenor and
    Consolidated Defendant-
    Intervenor.
    OPINION AND ORDER
    [Sustaining in part and remanding in part Commerce’s remand redetermination in
    the seventh administrative review covering the antidumping duty order covering
    diamond sawblades and parts thereof from the People’s Republic of China.]
    Dated: July 14, 2020
    Gregory S. Menegaz, J. Kevin Horgan, and Alexandra H. Salzman, deKieffer &
    Horgan, PLLC, of Washington, DC, for plaintiff, Bosun Tools Co., Ltd.
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                  Page 2
    Lizbeth R. Levinson, Ronald M. Wisla, and Brittney R. Powell, Fox Rothschild LLP,
    of Washington, DC, for consolidated plaintiff Chengdu Huifeng New Material
    Technology Co., Ltd. and plaintiff-intervenors Danyang NYCL Tools Manufacturing
    Co., Ltd., Danyang Weiwang Tools Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Deer King
    Industrial and Trading Co., Ltd., Guilin Tebon Superhard Material Co., Ltd., Jiangsu
    Youhe Tool Manufacturer Co., Ltd., Quanzhou Zhongzhi Diamond Tool Co., Ltd.,
    Rizhao Hein Saw Co., Ltd., and Zhejiang Wanli Tools Group Co., Ltd.
    Joseph H. Hunt, Assistant Attorney General, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil
    Division, U.S. Department of Justice, of Washington, DC, for defendant. With him
    on the brief were Franklin E. White, Jr., Assistant Director, Jeanne E. Davidson,
    Director. Of Counsel on the brief was Paul K. Keith, Attorney, Office of the Chief
    Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance, of Washington, DC.
    Daniel B. Pickard, Maureen E. Thorson, and Stephanie M. Bell, Wiley Rein, LLP, of
    Washington, DC, for defendant-intervenor and consolidated defendant-intervenor,
    Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers’ Coalition.
    Kelly, Judge:    Before the court is the U.S. Department of Commerce’s
    (“Department” or “Commerce”) remand redetermination filed pursuant to the court’s
    order in Bosun Tools Co. v. United States, 43 CIT __, 
    405 F. Supp. 3d 1359
    (2019)
    (“Bosun I”). See also Redetermination Pursuant to Court Remand Order in Bosun I,
    Mar. 10, 2020, ECF No. 79 (“Remand Results”). In Bosun I, the court sustained in
    part and remanded in part Commerce’s final determination in the seventh
    administrative review for the antidumping duty (“ADD”) order covering diamond
    sawblades and parts thereof (“DSBs”) from the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”).
    [DSBs] From the [PRC], 83 Fed. Reg. 17,527 (Dep’t Commerce Apr. 20, 2018) (final
    results of [ADD] admin. review; 2015–2016) (“Final Results”), and accompanying
    Issues & Decision Memo. Admin. Review [ADD] Order on [DSBs] from the [PRC], A-
    570-900, (Apr. 16, 2018), ECF No. 24-5 (“Final Decision Memo”); [DBSs] From the
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                   Page 3
    [PRC] and the Republic of Korea, 74 Fed. Reg. 57,145 (Dep’t Commerce Nov. 4, 2009)
    ([ADD] orders).
    The court directed Commerce to place the business confidential and public
    versions of Chengdu Huifeng New Material Technology Co., Ltd.’s (“Chengdu”)
    second supplemental response on the record and consider it for purposes of
    calculating Chengdu’s dumping margin, as well as recalculate any margins affected
    by a change to Chengdu’s margin. See Bosun I, 43 CIT at __, 405 F. Supp. 3d at 1366–
    67.   On remand, Commerce, under respectful protest,1 placed Chengdu’s second
    supplemental response on the record and considered that response, along with
    Chengdu’s responses to two additional supplemental questionnaires issued during
    the remand proceeding, and calculated an individual rate for Chengdu as well as
    recalculated the separate rate respondents’ rates. See Remand Results at 1–2.
    Plaintiff Bosun Tools Co., Ltd. (“Bosun”) as well as Plaintiff-Intervenors
    Danyang NYCL Tools Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Danyang Weiwang Tools
    Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Guilin Tebon Superhard Material Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Deer
    King Industrial and Trading Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Youhe Tool Manufacturer Co., Ltd.,
    Quanzhou Zhongzhi Diamond Tool Co., Ltd., Rizhao Hein Saw Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang
    Wanli Tools Group Co., Ltd. (collectively, “separate rate respondents”) challenge as
    unsupported by substantial evidence and not in accordance with law Commerce’s
    
    1 By adopting a position forced upon it by the Court “under protest,” Commerce
    preserves its right to appeal. See Viraj Grp., Ltd. v. United States, 
    343 F.3d 1371
    ,
    1376 (Fed. Cir. 2003).
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                   Page 4
    calculation of a separate rate respondents’ rate. Pl. [Bosun’s] Cmts. Opp’n Remand
    Results at 1, Apr. 10, 2020, ECF No. 82 (“Pl.’s Br.”); Pl.-Intervenors’ Cmts. [Remand
    Results] at 1–2, Apr. 10, 2020, ECF No. 84 (“Pl.-Intervenors’ Br.”).     Defendant-
    Intervenor Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers’ Coalition (“DSMC”) challenges as
    unsupported by substantial evidence and contrary to law Commerce’s reversal of its
    original determination to apply adverse facts available with an adverse inference to
    Chengdu. See [DSMC] Comments on [Remand Results] at 3–4, Apr. 10, 2020, ECF
    No. 81 (“Def-Intervenor’s Br.”). However, DSMC argues that Commerce did not err
    in calculating the separate rate respondents’ rate. [DSMC] Reply Cmts. [Remand
    Results] at 3–11, May 21, 2020, ECF No. 88 (“Def.-Intervenor’s Reply Br.”).
    Consolidated Plaintiff Chengdu and Defendant request the court to uphold the
    Remand Results in their entirety. Consol. Pl.’s Cmts. [Remand Results], Apr. 10,
    2020, ECF No. 83 (“Consol. Pl.’s Br.”); Def.’s Resp. Cmts. Remand Results, May 21,
    2020, ECF No. 87 (“Def.’s Br.”). For the reasons that follow, the court sustains
    Commerce’s determination of Chengdu’s rate and remands for further explanation or
    consideration the calculation of the rate applicable to Bosun and the separate rate
    respondents.
    BACKGROUND
    The court presumes familiarity with the facts of this case as set out in its
    previous opinion ordering remand to Commerce, and now recounts those relevant to
    the court’s review of the Remand Results. See Bosun I, 43 CIT at __, 405 F. Supp. 3d
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                     Page 5
    at 1363–64. Relevant here, in the seventh administrative review of the ADD order
    covering DSBs from the PRC, 2 Commerce selected Chengdu and Jiangsu Fengtai
    Single Entity (“Fengtai”) as mandatory respondents. 3 See Selection of Respondents
    for Individual Examination at 8, PD 106, bar code 3566489-01 (Apr. 26, 2017). 4
    Commerce found Chengdu qualified for a separate rate. 5 In addition, Commerce
    
    2 The seventh administrative review covered subject merchandise entered during the
    period November 1, 2015 through October 31, 2016. Initiation of Antidumping &
    Countervailing Duty Admin. Reviews, 82 Fed. Reg. 4,294, 4,296 (Dep’t Commerce
    Jan. 13, 2017).
    3No party challenged Commerce’s calculation of Fengtai’s rate, and Fengtai is not a
    party to this consolidated action.
    4  On June 13, 2018, Defendant submitted indices to the public and confidential
    administrative records underlying Commerce’s final determination. Defendant later
    filed a corrected index to the confidential record. The relevant indices are located on
    the docket at ECF Nos. 24-1 and 29. Subsequently, on March 24, 2020, Commerce
    filed on the docket the indices for the remand administrative record at ECF Nos. 80-
    1–2. All references to administrative record documents in this opinion are to the
    numbers Commerce assigned to the documents in the relevant indices.
    5 In antidumping proceedings, Commerce presumes that the export activities of all
    companies operating in a non-market economy (“NME”) country, like the PRC, are
    subject to government control. [DSBs] From the [PRC]: Decision Memo. for Prelim.
    Results of [ADD] Admin. Review; 2015–2016 at 4, A-570-900, PD 255, bar code
    3646590-01 (Nov. 30, 2017). The presumption is rebuttable, and companies seeking
    to rebut it file a separate rate application through which they must demonstrate that
    their export activities are de facto and de jure free of the NME-country’s control.
    Id. If a
    company successfully rebuts the presumption, it is assigned its own separate rate.
    Id. Congress does
    not prescribe a method for calculating a separate rate. Congress
    does, however, in 19 U.S.C. § 1673d(c)(5) prescribe a method for calculating an all-
    others rate, a rate assigned to non-mandatory respondent companies from a market
    economy country. Commerce has, by practice, adopted the methodology in 19 U.S.C.
    § 1673d(c)(5) to calculate a separate rate. See Albemarle Corp. & Subsidiaries v.
    (footnote continued)
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                        Page 6
    rejected as untimely the public and business proprietary versions of Chengdu’s
    second supplemental response.        See Commerce’s Rejection of Chengdu’s Second
    Suppl. Resp. at 1–2, PD 235, bar code 3625400-01 (Oct. 3, 2017). Commerce also
    denied Chengdu’s request for reconsideration. See generally Chengdu’s Resp. & Req.
    for Reconsideration of Commerce’s Rejection Memo., PD 236, bar code 3627194-01
    (Oct. 6, 2017); Commerce’s Denial of Chengdu’s Reconsideration Req., PD 246, bar
    code 3635994-01 (Nov. 1, 2017). Given that Commerce found that Chengdu missed
    the filing deadline 6 and did not act to the best of its ability to supply necessary
    information, Commerce determined its rate on the basis of total AFA, 7 selecting the
    
    United States, 
    821 F.3d 1345
    , 1351–53 (Fed. Cir. 2016); see also 19 U.S.C.
    § 1673d(c)(5). Section 1673d(c)(5) states that the all-others rate shall be the weighted
    average of the individually investigated exporter’s and producer’s dumping margins,
    excluding any margins that are de minimis, zero, or determined entirely by adverse
    facts available. As a result, the rate assigned to the successful separate rate
    respondents depends on the rate(s) calculated for the mandatory respondent(s).
    6Chengdu successfully uploaded the unredacted version of its second supplemental
    submission onto the Enforcement and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic
    Service System (“ACCESS”) but was unable to upload the complete redacted version
    prior to the filing deadline. See Bosun I, 43 CIT at __, 405 F. Supp. 3d at 1365.
    7 Parties and Commerce sometimes use the shorthand “adverse facts available” or
    “AFA” to refer to Commerce’s reliance on facts otherwise available with an adverse
    inference to reach a final determination. However, AFA encompasses a two-part
    inquiry pursuant to which Commerce must first identify why it needs to rely on facts
    otherwise available, and second, explain how a party failed to cooperate to the best of
    its ability as to warrant the use of an adverse inference when “selecting among the
    facts otherwise available.” See 19 U.S.C. § 1677e(a)–(b). The phrase “total adverse
    inferences” or “total AFA” encompasses a series of steps that Commerce takes to
    reach the conclusion that all of a party’s reported information is unreliable or
    unusable and that as a result of a party’s failure to cooperate to the best of its ability,
    it must use an adverse inference in selecting among the facts otherwise available.
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                    Page 7
    PRC-wide entity rate of 82.05 percent as Chengdu’s total AFA rate.         See Final
    Results, 83 Fed. Reg. at 17,528; see also [DSBs] From the [PRC], 82 Fed. Reg. 57,585,
    57,586 (Dep’t Commerce Dec. 6, 2017) (prelim. results of [ADD] admin. review; 2015–
    2016) (“Prelim. Results”), and accompanying Decision Memo. for [Prelim. Results] at
    10–13, A-570-900, PD 255, bar code 3646590-01 (Nov. 30, 2017) (“Prelim. Decision
    Memo.”).   Likewise, Commerce applied total AFA to determine Fengtai’s rate,
    because Commerce found Fengtai missed filing deadlines and failed to cooperate to
    the best of its ability. See Final Decision Memo. at 7–12, 16–19, 21; see also Prelim.
    Decision Memo. at 13. Commerce assigned the separate rate respondents the same
    AFA rate. 8 See Final Results, 83 Fed. Reg. at 17,528. Bosun and Chengdu initiated
    separate actions, which were later consolidated, challenging Commerce’s rejection of
    Chengdu’s second supplemental response and the application of total AFA to select
    the rate assigned to Chengdu and the separate rate respondents in the Final Results.
    See [Bosun’s] Summons, May 4, 2018, ECF No. 1; [Bosun’s] Compl., May 4, 2018, ECF
    No. 6; Order at 2, July 27, 2018, ECF No. 28.9
    In Bosun I, the court held Commerce’s rejection of Chengdu’s second
    supplemental response was an abuse of discretion and directed Commerce, on
    remand, to place the submission on the record and consider it for purposes of
    
    8 Commerce found that Bosun and Plaintiff-Intervenors were eligible for a separate
    rate. See Final Decision Memo at 21 & n.89; Prelim. Decision Memo at 6–8.
    9On May 24, 2018, the court granted Plaintiff-Intervenors’ motion to intervene as a
    matter of right. Order, May 24, 2018, ECF No. 20.
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                      Page 8
    calculating Chengdu’s rate and to recalculate any rates affected by a change to
    Chengdu’s rate. See Bosun I, 43 CIT at __, 405 F. Supp. 3d at 1366–67. 10 The court
    did not reach whether Commerce’s use of total AFA to select the margin assigned to
    Chengdu and the separate rate respondents was contrary to law.
    Id., 43 CIT
    at __,
    405 F. Supp. 3d at 1367.
    On remand, Commerce placed Chengdu’s second supplemental response on the
    record under respectful protest, because Commerce disagrees with the court’s
    direction in Bosun I. See Remand Results at 1, 6. Commerce considered Chengdu’s
    second supplemental response, as well as its responses to two additional
    supplemental questionnaires that Commerce issued during the remand proceeding,
    in determining Chengdu’s rate.
    Id. at 1–2,
    4. Using that information, Commerce
    calculated an individual antidumping rate of 0.00 percent for Chengdu.
    Id. at 4.
    
    10 Specifically, the court held that Commerce abused its discretion in rejecting and
    removing from the record Chengdu’s second supplemental response, when Chengdu
    successfully uploaded the unredacted version, but not the redacted version, of that
    response onto ACCESS before the filing deadline expired and timely served
    interested parties a copy of the unredacted submission. See Bosun I, 43 CIT at __,
    405 F. Supp. 3d at 1364–67. Chengdu had attempted to upload the redacted version
    prior to the expiry of the filing deadline but was only successful in uploading part and
    Commerce soon after notified Chengdu to re-file the redacted version, which Chengdu
    successfully did.
    Id.,
    43 CIT
    at __, 405 F. Supp. 3d at 1365. Given that Commerce
    and all interested parties had timely received copies of the full, unredacted version of
    the submission, the court could not conclude that Chengdu’s actions infringed or
    delayed Commerce’s review of the information in the submission.
    Id., 43 CIT
    at __,
    405 F. Supp. 3d at 1366. Further, the court noted that Commerce’s rejection of the
    submission would likely undermine the accurate calculation of dumping margins.
    Id., 43 CIT
    at __, 405 F. Supp. 3d at 1366. Therefore, the court ordered Commerce to
    place Chengdu’s submission on the record.
    Id., 43 CIT
    at __, 405 F. Supp. 3d at 1366–
    67.
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                   Page 9
    Commerce also assigned the separate rate respondents the average of Chengdu’s 0.00
    percent rate and Fengtai’s AFA 82.05 percent rate, i.e., an all others rate of 41.025
    percent.
    Id. at 7–8,
    14–18.
    JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
    The Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(a)(2)(B)(iii) 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 antidumping duty order.
    This 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
    I.   Commerce’s Calculation of Chengdu’s Rate
    DSMC argues that Commerce’s decision on remand not to apply adverse facts
    available with an adverse inference to Chengdu is unsupported by substantial
    evidence and contrary to law, because Commerce had appropriately determined
    Chengdu’s margin on the basis of total AFA in the Final Results.           See Def.-
    Intervenor’s Br. at 3–4. Although DSMC disagrees with the remand order in Bosun
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                    Page 10
    I, it does not argue that Commerce failed to comply with the court’s order or otherwise
    take issue with the Remand Results. See generally
    id. Defendant requests
    the court
    to sustain Commerce’s calculation of Chengdu’s rate because the Remand Results
    comply with the court’s remand order. See Def.’s Br. at 5–6. Chengdu also requests
    the court to affirm the remand results. See Consol. Pl.’s Br. at 1. Because Commerce
    placed Chengdu’s second supplemental response on the record and considered that
    response in its determination of Chengdu’s rate as directed in Bosun I, the court
    sustains Commerce’s determination of Chengdu’s rate. See Remand Results at 1–4,
    6.
    II.   Commerce’s Adjustment of Separate Rate Respondents’ Rate
    Bosun and separate rate respondents contend that Commerce erred in
    assigning the separate rate companies an all others rate of the average of Chengdu’s
    0.00 percent rate and Fengtai’s 82.05 percent rate.        See Pl.’s Br. at 1–2; Pl.-
    Intervenors’ Br. at 1–2. Further, they argue that Commerce’s application of the
    “expected method” under the statute, 19 U.S.C. § 1673d(c)(5), is unsupported by
    substantial evidence and not in accordance with law.        See Pl.’s Br. at 1–2; Pl.-
    Intervenors’ Br. at 1–2. Defendant and DSMC counter that Commerce reasonably
    relied upon an “expected method” and that its chosen methodology, as applied, is
    reasonable and in accordance with law. See Def.’s Br. at 6–11; Def.-Intervenor’s
    Reply Br. at 3–10. Likewise, Chengdu requests the court to affirm Commerce’s
    calculation of the separate rate companies’ margin. See Consol. Pl.’s Br. at 1. For
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                   Page 11
    the reasons that follow, Commerce’s calculation of the 41.025 percent rate applicable
    to the separate rate respondents is not supported by substantial evidence.
    Commerce normally calculates the all-others rate—or the rate applicable to
    non-investigated exporters and producers—as the “weighted average of the estimated
    weighted average dumping margins established for exporters and producers
    individually examined, excluding any zero and de minimis margins” and margins
    determined entirely on the basis of facts otherwise available. 11         19 U.S.C.
    § 1673d(c)(5)(A). 12 However, where all margins for individually examined exporters
    and producers are zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available,
    Commerce “may use any reasonable method to establish the estimated all others rate
    . . . , including averaging the estimated weighted average dumping margins
    determined for the exporters and producers individually investigated.”
    Id. at 
    11 Commerce is authorized to impose antidumping duties when merchandise is sold
    at less than fair value in the United States. 19 U.S.C. § 1673. Antidumping duties
    are equal to the dumping margin, or the amount by which “normal value”—or, the
    price of merchandise in the exporting country—exceeds the export price—or the price
    of merchandise in the United States.
    Id. at §§
    1673e(a)(1), 1677b(a)(1), 1677a(a). If
    the exporting country is designated a nonmarket economy (“NME”), like the PRC,
    “sales of merchandise in [that NME] country do not reflect the fair value of
    merchandise.” 19 U.S.C. § 1677(18)(A). Therefore, Commerce determines normal
    value based on an NME producer’s factors of production, used to produce the subject
    merchandise, in a market economy country or countries. See
    id. at §
    1677b(c); see
    also 19 C.F.R. § 351.408. Commerce assumes that all producers are part of the
    government-entity and, in its preliminary and final determinations, calculates one
    country-wide margin, unless an investigated respondent demonstrates it qualifies for
    a separate rate. See 19 C.F.R. § 351.408.
    12The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has clarified that the methods under
    19 U.S.C. § 1673d apply to administrative reviews as well as investigations. See
    Albemarle Corp. v. United States, 
    821 F.3d 1345
    , 1352–53 (Fed. Cir. 2016).
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                    Page 12
    § 1673d(c)(5)(B).   The Statement of Administrative Action elaborates that the
    “expected method[,]” in this scenario, is “to weight-average the zero and de minimis
    margins and margins determined pursuant to the facts available, provided that
    volume data is available.”       Uruguay Round Agreements Act, Statement of
    Administrative Action, H.R. Doc. No. 103-316, vol. 1, at 873 (1994), reprinted in 1994
    U.S.C.C.A.N. 4040, 4201. 13 If the “expected method” is “not feasible” or the method
    “results in an average that would not be reasonably reflective of potential dumping
    margins for non-investigated exporters or producers,” Commerce may, instead, “use
    other reasonable methods.”
    Id. Commerce’s determination
    must be supported by
    substantial evidence. See Albemarle Corp. & Subsidiaries v. United States, 
    821 F.3d 1345
    , 1353 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (explaining that “Commerce must find based on
    substantial evidence that there is a reasonable basis for concluding that the separate
    respondents’ dumping is different” to depart from the “expected method”).
    For example, in Albemarle, the Court of Appeals evaluated Commerce’s
    decision to set, as the rate applicable to three qualifying separate rate companies, the
    margins previously assigned to those same three separate rate companies from a
    prior administrative review (i.e., use non-contemporaneous data), rather than follow
    the “expected method” of averaging the de minimis margins assigned to the
    
    13 The Statement of Administrative Action is ‘‘recognized by Congress as an
    authoritative expression concerning the interpretation and application of the Tariff
    Act under 19 U.S.C. § 3512(d)[.]’’ Yangzhou Bestpak Gifts & Crafts Co. v. United
    States, 
    716 F.3d 1370
    , 1373 (Fed. Cir. 2013).
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                    Page 13
    individually examined respondents. See
    id. at 1349.
    In evaluating Commerce’s
    determination, the Court of Appeals noted that the statute’s “expected method”
    accords with the statutory framework, namely that the statute contemplates that, by
    individually investigating a limited number of exporters that account for a majority
    of the market, Commerce may approximate the margins of all known exporters.
    Id. at 1353.
    14 Thus, the Court of Appeals explained that Commerce must find, based on
    substantial evidence, that there is a reasonable basis to conclude that the non-
    individually examined respondents’ dumping is different in order to depart from the
    “expected method.”
    Id. For two
    of the separate rate companies, the Court of Appeals
    held that Commerce’s decision to deviate from the expected method and carry forward
    their previously assigned rates was not reasonable, when neither company had been
    individually examined in previous reviews and when Commerce lacked data specific
    to the two companies.
    Id. at 1355.
    15 As a result, the Court of Appeals held that
    Commerce had no basis to conclude that the separate rate companies’ potential
    dumping was different from the individually examined respondents’ dumping and
    
    14 The Court of Appeals elaborated that “[t]he representativeness of the investigated
    exporters is the essential characteristic that justifies an ‘all others’ rate based on a
    weighted average for such respondents.” 
    Albemarle, 821 F.3d at 1353
    (citing Nat’l
    Knitwear & Sportswear Ass’n v. United States, 
    15 CIT 548
    , 559, 
    779 F. Supp. 1364
    ,
    1373–74 (1991)) (internal quotes omitted).
    15 The Court of Appeals noted that in the immediately preceding administrative
    review, Commerce assumed that the individually examined respondents were
    reasonably representative of the two separate rate companies and, as a result,
    calculated the separate rate by averaging the margins of the individually examined
    respondents (i.e., applied the “expected method”). 
    Albemarle, 821 F.3d at 1355
    .
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                  Page 14
    apply “any other reasonable method.”
    Id. However, for
    the third separate rate
    company, the Court of Appeals found that Commerce had information specific to that
    company, because it had been individually examined in the preceding administrative
    review.
    Id. Specifically, the
    court noted, the margin assigned to that company in the
    preceding review was far higher than what would be the average of the individually
    examined respondents in the instant review, indicating that following the “expected
    method” might not reflect that separate rate company’s potential dumping margin.
    Id. Therefore, the
    court held that Commerce was entitled to resort to “other
    reasonable methods” under the statute.
    Id. at 1355–56.
    16
    Further, “accuracy and fairness must be Commerce’s primary objectives in
    calculating a separate rate for cooperating exporters,” 
    Albemarle, 821 F.3d at 1354
    
    16 However, the Court of Appeals ultimately held that Commerce’s decision to apply
    a previous, non-contemporaneous margin did not constitute an “other reasonable
    method[]” given the facts at hand and remanded Commerce’s determination.
    
    Albemarle, 821 F.3d at 1356
    –59. Specifically, the Court of Appeals faulted Commerce
    for assuming that the underlying facts or the margins remained the same from the
    prior period of review.
    Id. at 1356–57.
    Even though, as the court acknowledged, there
    may be “at least two circumstances” in which it may be appropriate to apply a non-
    contemporaneous rate—where the overall market and dumping margins have not
    changed or where, based on a lack of cooperation that warrants the application of
    AFA, Commerce may assume a respondent’s dumping behavior has not changed—
    neither circumstance applied to the cooperating separate rate company.
    Id. at 1357–
    58. In addition, the court disagreed with the defendant that a history of dumping in
    itself demonstrates that the dumping continued at the same rate, even if that history
    of dumping from prior administrative reviews “is relevant and may inform
    Commerce’s methodology[.]” Id, at 1358. The court also found it unreasonable that
    Commerce carried over the separate rate company’s’ prior rate, when it could have
    collected additional data but declined to do so, and when it had partial data already
    on the record specific to that company.
    Id. at 1358–59.
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                    Page 15
    (citing Yangzhou Bestpak Gifts & Crafts Co. v. United States, 
    716 F.3d 1370
    , 1379
    (Fed. Cir. 2013)), contrary to Commerce’s suggestion, here, that such concerns are no
    longer valid. See Remand Results at 16. Specifically, Commerce contends that
    accuracy and fairness concerns stem from a statutorily superseded requirement laid
    out in Gallant Ocean that Commerce consider “commercial reality.” See Remand
    Results at 16 (citing Gallant Ocean (Thailand) Co. v. United States, 
    602 F.3d 1319
    ,
    1325 (Fed. Cir. 2010)).    The statutory provision at issue provides that, when
    Commerce makes an adverse inference in selecting among facts otherwise available,
    Commerce “is not required, for purposes of subsection (c) or for any other purpose . .
    . to demonstrate that the countervailable subsidy rate or dumping margin . . . reflects
    an alleged commercial reality of the interested party.” See 19 U.S.C. § 1677e(d)(3).
    It does not stand to reason that the statutory directive not to consider “commercial
    reality” in the AFA context obviated the fairness and accuracy concerns identified by
    Bestpak when applying a separate statutory provision to cooperative respondents.
    See 
    Bestpak, 716 F.3d at 1379
    –80; see also 
    Albemarle, 821 F.3d at 1354
    (citing to
    Gallant Ocean for the proposition that “accuracy and fairness must be Commerce’s
    primary objectives in calculating a separate rate for cooperating exporters”).
    Here, Commerce’s application of the “expected method” of weight-averaging
    the zero and AFA margins is not reasonable, because Commerce failed to consider
    evidence indicating that the 41.025 rate is not reasonably reflective of the separate
    rate respondents’ dumping. 
    Albemarle, 821 F.3d at 1355
    –57. Specifically, Commerce
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                    Page 16
    fails to address evidence which detracts from its determination to use the expected
    method. Albemarle establishes that Commerce will use the expected method unless
    it determines that the expected method will result in dumping margins not
    reasonably reflective of a separate rate respondent’s potential dumping margin and
    supports that determination with substantial evidence. See 
    Albemarle, 821 F.3d at 1353
    (“Commerce must find based on substantial evidence that there is a reasonable
    basis for concluding that the separate rate respondents’ dumping is different.”); see
    also
    id. at 1355–57.
    Bosun put forth evidence that the expected method would result
    in an unreasonable rate. See Pl.’s Br. at 6–7 (explaining that “there is a history of
    low calculated dumping margins,” including margins assigned to Bosun following
    individual examination).     The separate rate companies and Bosun did not, as
    Commerce finds, “fail to identify any record evidence suggesting that the separate
    rate does not reasonably reflect their potential dumping margins.” Remand Results
    at 15. Rather, Commerce simply declines to address that evidence because it was
    non-contemporaneous.
    Id. at 8
    n.20, 14–15. Commerce errs by summarily rejecting
    that evidence. 17
    Id. at 15;
    see also Solianus Inc. v. United States, 43 CIT __, __, 391
    
    17 Commerce misreads Albemarle.              Commerce invokes Albemarle to reject non-
    contemporaneous data as a basis to deviate from the expected method. See Second
    Remand Results at 14–15; see also Def.’s Br. at 9–10 (defending Commerce’s analysis
    based on Albemarle). However, in Albemarle the Court of Appeals endorsed
    Commerce’s reliance upon non-contemporaneous data for it to depart from the
    expected method in determining the “all others” rate.
    Id., 821 F.3d
    at 1356. Contrary
    (footnote continued)
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                   Page 
    17 F. Supp. 3d 1331
    , 1339 (sustaining Commerce’s adherence to the “expected method”
    when there was no evidence why the resultant margin failed, as the plaintiffs alleged,
    to reflect their economic reality).   On remand, and consistent with Albemarle,
    Commerce must either reconsider its determination or explain why following the
    “expected method” is reasonable in light of evidence of any margins assigned to the
    separate respondents and Bosun, when individually investigated in prior reviews.18
    
    to Commerce’s approach here, the Albemarle court instructs Commerce to consider
    any evidence on the record—in that case, the presence or absence of historical data—
    to determine whether to apply the expected method. Compare Remand Results at 14
    with 
    Albemarle, 821 F.3d at 1355
    –56. The contemporaneity of the data is then
    considered when establishing the reasonableness of a rate established by an
    alternative method. See 
    Albemarle, 821 F.3d at 1356
    –59.
    18 On remand, Commerce, in determining whether to apply the “expected method,”
    should consider any margins determined by individual examination of Bosun and any
    of the separate rate respondents in prior administrative reviews. Cf. 
    Albemarle, 821 F.3d at 1355
    –57. Should Commerce, on remand, determine that following the
    “expected method” does not reflect Bosun’s or one or more of the separate rate
    respondents’ potential dumping margins, Commerce must provide a reasoned
    explanation for its selection of an “other reasonable methodology[]” in light of
    Albemarle. See
    id., 821 F.3d
    at 1356–59; see also Yangzhou Bestpak & Crafts Co. v.
    United States, 
    716 F.3d 1370
    , 1378–81 (Fed. Cir. 2013). Commerce may consider the
    extent to which it has information on the record regarding a separate rate respondent
    and whether it would be appropriate to reopen the record to collect additional
    information. 
    Albemarle, 821 F.3d at 1358
    –59 (citing Amanda Foods (Vietnam) Ltd.
    v. United 
    States, 35 CIT at 415
    –17, 
    774 F. Supp. 2d 1286
    , 1289–90 (2011) (“Amanda
    Foods”) (noting, in Amanda Foods, that Commerce reopened the administrative
    record to collect additional information from separate rate respondents when all
    individually assigned respondents were assigned de minimis margins). Further, to
    the extent that Bosun and the separate rate respondents suggest that a zero rate
    would be reasonably reflective of their potential dumping margins, that is a
    determination for Commerce to make after considering record evidence, should it
    (footnote continued)
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                   Page 18
    CONCLUSION
    In accordance with the foregoing, it is
    ORDERED that Commerce’s calculation of Chengdu’s rate is sustained; and
    it is further
    ORDERED that Commerce’s determination of the rate applicable to Bosun
    and the separate rate respondents 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
    
    decide to depart from the “expected method.” See Pl.’s Br. at 12; Pl.-Intervenors’ Br.
    at 1–2. Nonetheless, Commerce should heed the Albemarle court’s words of caution
    regarding carrying forward non-contemporaneous margins and AFA margins, when,
    as is the case here, the non-individually examined respondents cooperated. See
    id., 821 F.3d
    at 1357–58.
    Consol. Court No. 18-00102                                                      Page 19
    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:       July 14, 2020
    New York, New York