Columbia Aluminum Prods., LLC v. United States

701 F. Supp. 3d 1363, 2024 CIT 51
CourtUnited States Court of International Trade
DecidedApril 24, 2024
DocketConsol. 19-00185
StatusPublished

This text of 701 F. Supp. 3d 1363 (Columbia Aluminum Prods., LLC v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of International Trade primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Columbia Aluminum Prods., LLC v. United States, 701 F. Supp. 3d 1363, 2024 CIT 51 (cit 2024).

Opinion

SlipȱOp.ȱ24Ȭśŗȱ

UNITEDȱSTATESȱCOURTȱOFȱINTERNATIONALȱTRADEȱ

COLUMBIAȱALUMINUMȱPRODUCTS,ȱ LLC,ȱ

Plaintiff,ȱ ȱȱBefore:ȱȱTimothyȱC.ȱStanceu,ȱJudgeȱ v.ȱ ȱȱCourtȱNo.ȱ19Ȭ00185ȱ UNITEDȱSTATES,ȱ

Defendant.ȱ

OPINIONȱ

[Sustainingȱremandȱredeterminationȱinȱlitigationȱcontestingȱanȱagencyȱ determinationȱofȱ“evasion”ȱofȱantidumpingȱdutyȱandȱcountervailingȱdutyȱorders]ȱ

Dated:ȱAprilȱŘŚ,ȱ2024ȱ

JeremyȱW.ȱDutra,ȱSquireȱPattonȱBoggsȱ(US)ȱLLP,ȱofȱWashington,ȱD.C.,ȱforȱ plaintiff.ȱȱWithȱhimȱonȱtheȱsubmissionȱwasȱPeterȱJ.ȱKoenig.ȱ

AlexanderȱJ.ȱVanderweide,ȱSeniorȱTrialȱCounsel,ȱCommercialȱLitigationȱBranch,ȱ CivilȱDivision,ȱU.S.ȱDepartmentȱofȱJustice,ȱofȱNewȱYork,ȱN.Y.,ȱforȱdefendant.ȱȱWithȱhimȱ onȱtheȱsubmissionȱwereȱJustinȱR.ȱMiller,ȱAttorneyȬinȬCharge,ȱandȱAimeeȱLee,ȱAssistantȱ Director,ȱInternationalȱTradeȱFieldȱOffice.ȱȱAlsoȱonȱtheȱsubmissionȱwereȱBrianȱM.ȱ Boynton,ȱPrincipalȱDeputyȱAttorneyȱGeneral,ȱPatriciaȱM.ȱMcCarthy,ȱDirector,ȱ CommercialȱLitigationȱBranch,ȱCivilȱDivision,ȱU.S.ȱDepartmentȱofȱJustice,ȱofȱ Washington,ȱD.C.ȱȱOfȱcounselȱonȱtheȱsubmissionȱwasȱTamariȱJ.ȱLagvilava,ȱAttorney,ȱ OfficeȱofȱChiefȱCounsel,ȱU.S.ȱCustomsȱandȱBorderȱProtection,ȱofȱWashington,ȱD.C.ȱ

Stanceu,ȱJudge:ȱȱPlaintiffȱColumbiaȱAluminumȱProducts,ȱLLCȱ(“Columbia”)ȱ

contestedȱtwoȱrelatedȱdecisionsȱthatȱU.S.ȱCustomsȱandȱBorderȱProtectionȱ(“Customs”ȱorȱ

“CBP”)ȱissuedȱunderȱtheȱEnforceȱandȱProtectȱAct,ȱ19ȱU.S.C.ȱ§ȱ1517ȱ(2018)ȱ(theȱ“EAPA”).ȱȱ CourtȱNo.ȱ19Ȭ00185ȱ Pageȱ2ȱ

Inȱbothȱdecisions,ȱCustomsȱdeterminedȱthatȱdoorȱthresholdsȱColumbiaȱimportedȱfromȱ

Vietnamȱwereȱ“coveredȱmerchandise”ȱthatȱevadedȱanȱantidumpingȱdutyȱ(“AD”)ȱorderȱ

andȱaȱcountervailingȱdutyȱ(“CVD”)ȱorderȱ(theȱ“Orders”)ȱonȱaluminumȱextrusionsȱfromȱ

theȱPeople’sȱRepublicȱofȱChina.ȱ

Inȱaȱredeterminationȱissuedȱearlierȱthisȱyearȱinȱresponseȱtoȱanȱorderȱofȱtheȱcourt,ȱ

CustomsȱconcludedȱthatȱColumbia’sȱimportedȱdoorȱthresholdsȱdidȱnotȱevadeȱtheȱ

Ordersȱandȱinformedȱtheȱcourtȱofȱitsȱintentionȱtoȱdiscontinueȱtheȱ“interimȱmeasures”ȱitȱ

earlierȱimposedȱonȱColumbia’sȱimportsȱofȱdoorȱthresholdsȱfromȱVietnam.ȱȱPlaintiffȱ

advocatesȱthatȱtheȱcourtȱsustainȱCBP’sȱdecisionȱthatȱColumbia’sȱimportsȱdidȱnotȱevadeȱ

theȱOrdersȱbutȱobjectsȱtoȱtheȱredeterminationȱtoȱtheȱextentȱthatȱitȱwouldȱnotȱresultȱinȱ

liquidationȱofȱtheȱaffectedȱimportȱentriesȱpriorȱtoȱaȱfinalȱandȱconclusiveȱcourtȱdecisionȱinȱ

thisȱaction.ȱȱTheȱcourtȱsustainsȱCBP’sȱredetermination.ȱ

I. BACKGROUND

Backgroundȱonȱthisȱlitigationȱisȱsetȱforthȱinȱtheȱcourt’sȱpreviousȱopinionȱandȱ

orderȱandȱisȱsupplementedȱherein.ȱȱColumbiaȱAluminumȱProducts,ȱLLCȱv.ȱUnitedȱStates,ȱ

2024ȱWLȱ257026ȱ(Jan.ȱ16,ȱ2024)ȱ(“ColumbiaȱI”).ȱȱInȱColumbiaȱI,ȱtheȱcourtȱorderedȱCustomsȱ

toȱ“submitȱtoȱtheȱcourtȱaȱRedeterminationȱuponȱRemandȱthatȱisȱconsistentȱwithȱthisȱ

OpinionȱandȱOrderȱandȱaddressesȱtheȱactionsȱitȱwillȱtakeȱwithȱrespectȱtoȱtheȱInterimȱ

Measuresȱitȱpreviouslyȱimposed.”ȱȱId.,ȱ2024ȱWLȱatȱ*13.ȱ CourtȱNo.ȱ19Ȭ00185ȱ Pageȱ3ȱ

BeforeȱtheȱcourtȱisȱCBP’sȱFinalȱ“RemandȱRedetermination”ȱ(Feb.ȱ15,ȱ2024),ȱECFȱ

No.ȱ86ȱ(“RemandȱRedetermination”).ȱȱPlaintiffȱfiledȱcommentsȱonȱtheȱRemandȱ

Redetermination.ȱȱColumbiaȱAluminumȱProducts,ȱLLC’sȱCommentsȱonȱRemandȱ

Redeterminationȱ(Feb.ȱ24,ȱ2024),ȱECFȱNo.ȱ87ȱ(“Columbia’sȱComments”).ȱȱDefendantȱ

respondedȱtoȱthoseȱcomments.ȱȱDef.’sȱResponseȱtoȱPl.’sȱCommentsȱonȱRemandȱ

Redeterminationȱ(Mar.ȱ5,ȱ2024),ȱECFȱNo.ȱ88ȱ(“Def.’sȱResponse”).ȱ

II. DISCUSSION

InȱtheȱRemandȱRedetermination,ȱCustomsȱconcludedȱ“thatȱColumbiaȱcorrectlyȱ

enteredȱmerchandiseȱasȱentryȱtypeȱ“01”ȱconsumptionȱentries,ȱinsteadȱofȱasȱentryȱtypeȱ

“03”ȱAD/CVDȱentriesȱand,ȱaccordingly,ȱnoȱAD/CVDȱdutiesȱareȱapplicable.”ȱȱRemandȱ

Redeterminationȱatȱ6.ȱȱCustomsȱconcluded,ȱfurther,ȱthatȱ“[t]hus,ȱColumbiaȱdidȱnotȱenterȱ

coveredȱmerchandiseȱintoȱtheȱUnitedȱStatesȱthroughȱmaterialȱfalseȱstatementsȱorȱ

omissions.”ȱȱCustomsȱstatedȱthatȱ“[g]ivenȱthisȱreversalȱofȱtheȱMarchȱ2019ȱDeterminationȱ

andȱAdministrativeȱReviewȱ[theȱagencyȱdecisionsȱcontestedȱinȱthisȱlitigation1],ȱCBPȱ

intendsȱtoȱterminateȱtheȱinterimȱmeasuresȱimposedȱonȱMayȱ17,ȱ2018ȱandȱprocessȱ

refundsȱofȱanyȱcashȱdeposits,ȱasȱappropriate,ȱonceȱjudgmentȱisȱenteredȱinȱthisȱmatter.”ȱȱ

1ȱNoticeȱofȱFinalȱDeterminationȱasȱtoȱEvasionȱ(Mar.ȱ20,ȱ2019),ȱP.R.ȱDoc.ȱ61;ȱEnforceȱ andȱProtectȱActȱ(“EAPA”)ȱCaseȱNumberȱ7232ȱ(Aug.ȱ26,ȱ2019),ȱP.R.ȱDoc.ȱ67.ȱȱCitationsȱ hereinȱtoȱdocumentsȱfromȱtheȱJointȱAppendixȱ(Apr.ȱ28,ȱ2023),ȱECFȱNos.ȱ83ȱ(conf.),ȱ82ȱ (public)ȱareȱreferencedȱhereinȱasȱ“P.R.ȱDoc.ȱ__”ȱforȱpublicȱversions.ȱȱAllȱinformationȱ disclosedȱinȱthisȱOpinionȱandȱOrderȱisȱpublicȱinformation.ȱ CourtȱNo.ȱ19Ȭ00185ȱ Pageȱ4ȱ

Id.ȱatȱ6—7.ȱȱCustomsȱaddedȱthatȱ“[a]nyȱunliquidatedȱentriesȱwillȱbeȱliquidatedȱ

consistentȱwithȱtheȱfinalȱandȱconclusiveȱcourtȱdecisionȱinȱthisȱcase,ȱincludingȱallȱ

remandsȱandȱappeals.”ȱȱId.ȱatȱ7.ȱȱTheȱ“interimȱmeasures”ȱtoȱwhichȱCustomsȱreferredȱ

“includedȱ‘rateȬadjusting’ȱtheȱentriesȱ.ȱ.ȱ.ȱforȱtheȱcollectionȱofȱcashȱdeposits,ȱrequiringȱ

‘liveȱentry’ȱforȱ‘allȱfutureȱimportsȱofȱproductsȱbelievedȱtoȱbeȱaluminumȱthresholdsȱbyȱ

Columbia’ȱ.ȱ.ȱ.ȱandȱextendingȱandȱsuspendingȱliquidationȱofȱentries.”ȱȱColumbiaȱI,ȱ2024ȱ

WLȱ257026ȱatȱ*2ȱ(quotingȱNoticeȱofȱInitiationȱofȱInvestigationȱandȱInterimȱMeasuresȱatȱ6—7ȱ

(Mayȱ17,ȱ2018),ȱP.R.ȱDoc.ȱ18).ȱ

Columbiaȱagreesȱinȱpart,ȱandȱdisagreesȱinȱpart,ȱwithȱtheȱRemandȱ

Redetermination.ȱȱColumbiaȱstatesȱthatȱitȱagreesȱwithȱtheȱagency’sȱdecidingȱ“thatȱ

ColumbiaȱdidȱnotȱenterȱcoveredȱmerchandiseȱintoȱtheȱUnitedȱStatesȱbyȱmeansȱofȱ

evasion”ȱandȱ“requestsȱthatȱtheȱCourtȱsustainȱtheȱRemandȱRedeterminationȱofȱnoȱ

evasionȱandȱenterȱjudgmentȱinȱColumbia’sȱfavor.”ȱȱColumbia’sȱCommentsȱ1.ȱȱAtȱtheȱ

sameȱtime,ȱColumbiaȱobjectsȱthatȱ“[h]avingȱmadeȱaȱnegativeȱdetermination,ȱCBPȱstatesȱ

thatȱitȱintendsȱtoȱterminateȱinterimȱmeasuresȱimplementedȱonȱMayȱ17,ȱ2018.”ȱȱId.ȱȱ“Thisȱ

suggestsȱthatȱinterimȱmeasuresȱagainstȱColumbiaȱremainȱinȱplaceȱ.ȱ.ȱ.ȱcontraryȱtoȱCBPȱ

regulations,ȱwhichȱrequireȱimmediateȱterminationȱofȱinterimȱmeasuresȱuponȱaȱnegativeȱ

findingȱofȱevasion.”ȱȱId.ȱatȱ1Ȭ2ȱ(citingȱ19ȱC.F.R.ȱ§ȱ165.27(c)).ȱȱFurther,ȱColumbiaȱobjectsȱtoȱ CourtȱNo.ȱ19Ȭ00185ȱ Pageȱ5ȱ

anyȱdelayȱinȱtheȱliquidationȱofȱunliquidatedȱentriesȱthatȱareȱaffectedȱbyȱthisȱlitigation,ȱ

arguingȱasȱfollows:ȱ

CBPȱfurtherȱindicatesȱthatȱitȱwillȱliquidateȱanyȱunliquidatedȱentriesȱ followingȱaȱfinalȱandȱconclusiveȱcourtȱdecision,ȱincludingȱallȱremandsȱandȱ appeals.ȱȱRespectfully,ȱthereȱwillȱbeȱnoȱappealȱhere.ȱȱColumbiaȱsucceededȱ inȱitsȱchallengeȱtoȱtheȱoriginalȱevasionȱdetermination.ȱȱTheȱUnitedȱStates,ȱ moreover,ȱdidȱnotȱmakeȱitsȱfindingȱofȱnoȱevasionȱunderȱprotest.ȱȱAndȱ Endura,ȱtheȱinstigatorȱofȱthisȱmatter,ȱabandonedȱanyȱparticipationȱatȱtheȱ CourtȱorȱbeforeȱCBP,ȱthusȱwaivingȱanyȱrightȱtoȱappeal.ȱȱButȱforȱtheȱinterimȱ measures,ȱallȱColumbiaȱentriesȱsuspendedȱbyȱCBPȱwouldȱhaveȱliquidatedȱ overȱfourȱyearsȱago.ȱUnderȱtheȱcircumstances,ȱColumbiaȱrequestsȱthatȱtheȱ CourtȱorderȱCBPȱtoȱterminateȱimmediatelyȱinterimȱmeasuresȱandȱliquidateȱ allȱpreviouslyȱsuspendedȱentriesȱuponȱtheȱCourt’sȱentryȱofȱjudgment.ȱ

Id.ȱ

InȱitsȱresponseȱtoȱColumbia’sȱcomments,ȱdefendantȱcontestsȱColumbia’sȱ

assertionȱthatȱ“CBPȱhasȱnotȱabidedȱbyȱitsȱregulations,”ȱpointingȱoutȱthatȱtheȱregulationȱ

onȱwhichȱColumbiaȱrelies,ȱ19ȱC.F.R.ȱ§ȱ165.27(c)ȱ(2023),ȱprovidesȱasȱfollows:ȱ“IfȱCBPȱ

makesȱaȱdeterminationȱunderȱparagraphȱ(a)ȱofȱthisȱsectionȱthatȱcoveredȱmerchandiseȱ

wasȱnotȱenteredȱintoȱtheȱcustomsȱterritoryȱofȱtheȱUnitedȱStatesȱthroughȱevasion,ȱthenȱ

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701 F. Supp. 3d 1363, 2024 CIT 51, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/columbia-aluminum-prods-llc-v-united-states-cit-2024.