Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers Coalition v. United States

34 Ct. Int'l Trade 211, 2010 CIT 25

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

MUSGRAVE, Senior Judge:

Before the court is a motion submitted by Defendant United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (“Commerce” or “the Department”) seeking leave from the Court to issue and publish an amended determination that incorporates corrections to certain alleged ministerial errors in the dumping margin calculation set forth in its final affirmative antidumping determination regarding diamond sawblades and parts thereof imported from the Republic of Korea. See Def.’s Mot. for Leave to Publish Am. Final Determ. Correcting Ministerial Errors (“Def.’s Mot.”); Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less than Fair Value and Final Determination of Critical Circumstances: Diamond Sawblades and Parts Thereof from the Republic of Korea, 71 Fed. Reg. 29310 (May 22, 2006) (“Final Results”). Defendant-Intervenors Ehwa Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd., (“Ehwa”), Shinhan Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd. (“Shinhan”), and SH Trading, Inc., have consented to the motion; Plaintiff Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers’ Coalition (“DSMC”) opposes the motion on several grounds, and moves in the alternative for leave from the court to file an amended summons and complaint if the motion is granted. Pl.’s Opp’n to Def.s’ Mot. for Leave to Amend Final Determ. (“Pl.’s Opp’n”). For the reasons sét forth below, both motions will be granted. Further, Defendant’s motion to expedite consideration of this matter will be denied as moot.

L

Background

Commerce published the Final Results on May 22, 2006. The Final Results differed from the preliminary determination in several respects that are relevant to this matter. First, contrary to its preliminary findings, Commerce determined that Ehwa and Shinhan should not be “collapsed” into a single entity and instead treated them as separate entities with different dumping margins. See Final Results, 71 Fed. Reg. at 29312; Issues and Decision Memorandum (“Decision Mem.”), Pub. R. Doc. 529 at 51. Second, the weighted average dumping margins were revised upward from 11.25% to 12.76% for Ehwa, from 11.25% to 26.55% for Shinhan, and 16.39% for the “all others” rate, which had been previously set at 10.25%. Final Results, 71 Fed. Reg. at 29312. See Notice of Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Negative Preliminary Critical Circumstances Determination: Diamond Sawblades and Parts Thereof from the Republic of Korea, 70 Fed. Reg. 77135 (Dept. Commerce, Dec. 29, 2005) (“Preliminary Results”). Finally, the Department found that; due (at least in part) to the higher dumping margins, “critical circumstances” existed for Shinhan and for the “all others” category of companies, triggering the 90-day “retroactive” suspension of liquidation pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1673d(c)(4)(B). Final Results, 71 Fed. Reg. at 29312.

Shortly after the publication of the Final Results, Ehwa and Shin-han submitted, in compliance with the Department’s regulations, ministerial error comments alleging, among other things, that the dumping margin calculation was incorrect because Commerce had inadvertently failed to allow for a constructed export price (“CEP”) offset in its calculations for Ehwa and Shinhan. See May 24, 2006 Ministerial Error Comments, Pub. R. Docs. 542, 543. In rebuttal, then-petitioner DSMC argued that the Department’s failure to include a CEP offset was not a ministerial error because the lack of analysis in the Final Results indicated that “Commerce did not analyze whether Ehwa or Shinhan are entitled to ... a CEP offset adjustment as separate entities.” May 30, 2006 Ministerial Error Reply, Pub. R. Doc. 545.

In a June 28, 2006 memorandum to the Acting Director, a senior International Trade Compliance Analyst concluded that the Department had indeed made a ministerial error with respect to Ehwa and Shinhan’s CEP offset, and recommended that the error be corrected. Ministerial Allegations Mem., Pub. R. Doc. 547 at 2, 4. The analyst explained that “given that the preliminary determination analysis was based upon Shinhan and Ehwa’s individual selling functions, and given that no information or argument was submitted subsequent to the preliminary determination to demonstrate otherwise, we find that a ministerial error occurred . . . .” Pub. R. Doc. 547 at 2-3.

However, two subsequent events prevented Commerce from implementing the recommended corrections. First, on July 11, 2006, the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) published in the Federal Register its final determination that the domestic diamond sawblade industry was not materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of the subject imports. See Diamond Sawblades and Parts Thereof from China and Korea, Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1092 and 1093 (Final), 71 Fed. Reg. 39128 (ITC July 11, 2006). Accordingly, and pursuant to the Department’s own regulations, the antidumping investigation terminated automatically on that date. See 19 C.F.R. § 351.207(d) (2009) (stating that “an investigation terminates automatically upon publication in the Federal Register” of negative ITC determination). See also Customs Telex, Pub. R. Doc. 553. Second, as noted by the defendant, DSMC initiated this challenge to the Final Results on July 25, 2006, which divested Commerce of jurisdiction over the matter.

On October 12, 2006, this challenge to the Final Results was stayed pending the outcome of Court No. 06-00247, DSMC’s parallel action contesting the ITC’s negative-injury determination. See October 12, 2006 Stay Order, Court No; 06-00248. DSMC’s challenge to the ITC determination is not yet resolved. After a remand and subsequent reversal by the ITC on the question of threat-of-material-injury, the court issued a final decision sustaining the ITC’s (now affirmative) remand determination on January 25, 2009. Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers’ Coalition v, United States, 33 CIT _, Slip Op. 09-5 (appeal docketed, Oct. 15, 2009; argued Feb. 2, 2010) (“Diamond Sawblades II"). Yet because Diamond Sawblades II is now pending appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“Federal Circuit”), the conclusive outcome of that case has not been determined. The court here clarifies that the merits of this action (Court No. 06-00248) will remain stayed until issuance of a final and conclusive decision in that case.

Three other actions challenging the Final Results have been commenced in this Court pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(a)(2)(A)(i)(II). 1 See Ehwa Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd., v. United States, (Court No. 09-00508), Shinhan Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd., v. United States, (Court No. 09-00509), and Hyosung D & P Co., Ltd., v. United States, (Court No. 09-00510). The government filed in those actions parallel motions to issue an amended Final Results correcting ministerial errors; plaintiffs in those actions are unopposed to the motion, but DSMC, having been granted Defendant-Intervenor status in those actions, opposes.

DSMC opposes the motion on the grounds that (1) the alleged errors are not ministerial; (2) the defendant has failed to show good cause for making the corrections; and (3) the balance of hardships are in DSMC’s favor, because the merits of the case will reveal that the cash deposit rate is “already lower than it should be” and that even if it is determined otherwise, any excess cash deposits would ultimately be returned. Pl.’s Opp’n at 2, 5, 6.

II.

Discussion

A.

The court’s jurisdiction over this matter is derived from 28 U.S.C. 1581(c) (2006). The term “ministerial error” is defined both in statute and regulation as “an error in addition, subtraction, or other arith metic function, clerical error resulting from inaccurate copying, duplication, or the like, and any other similar type of unintentional error which the Secretary considers ministerial.” 19 U.S.C. § 1623d(e) (2006); 19 C.F.R. § 351.224(f) (2009). The power of an administrative agency to correct its own ministerial errors is presumed and considered analogous to the power of a court to correct ministerial errors set forth in Federal Rule of Procedure (“FRCP”) Rule 60(a). American Trucking Ass’n v. Frisco, 358 U.S. 133, 145 (1958). In this case, Congress expressly delegated that power to the Department by the enactment of section 1333 of The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (codified as 19 U.S.C. § 1673d(e)).

However, once a lawsuit has been commenced in this Court, Commerce is no longer authorized to amend its determination. See 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c). As the Zenith Court explained, “once [this] court’s exclusive jurisdiction has been invoked, Commerce may correct clerical errors only with the court’s prior authorization.” Zenith Electronics Corp. v. United States, 884 F.2d 566, 561 (Fed. Cir. 1989). The “prior authorization” requirement announced in Zenith is also analogized from FRCP Rule 60(a), which provides that, once an appeal has been docketed in the appellate court, clerical mistakes may only be corrected “with leave of the appellate court.” FRCP Rule 60(a); USCIT Rule 60(a). Without the court’s authorization, Commerce would be left to correct the errors only if the judicial review process results in a remand to the agency that specifically or implicitly contemplates such correction rather than through the procedure contemplated by section 1673d(e). See NTN Corp v. United States, 32 CIT _, 587 F. Supp.2d 1313 (2008).

On the other hand, “it is axiomatic that fair and accurate determinations are fundamental to the proper administration of our dumping laws[;] [consequently, courts have uniformly authorized the correction of any clerical errors which would affect the accuracy of a determination.” Koyo Seiko Co. v. United States, 14 CIT 680, 682, 746 F. Supp. 1108, 1110 (1990). Moreover, where, as here, Congress has provided a specific mechanism for the correction of ministerial errors, the enactment of those provisions may be interpreted to “indicate [] a legislative preference for determinations that are factually correct.” Koyo Seiko, 14 CIT at 683, 746 F. Supp. 2d at 1111. Accordingly, it follows that allowing correction of a ministerial error contained in a dumping margin calculation would further the congressional purpose underlying 19 U.S.C. § 1673d(e).

The decision of whether to allow correction of ministerial errors is left to the court’s discretion. In this Court, that determination has generally turned on whether the proposed correction will be proce durally unfair or cause prejudice to one of the parties. See, e.g., NTN, 587 F. Supp.2d at 1313. However, where the issue is contested, the court must first determine whether the error described by the defendant’s motion is accurately characterized as ministerial; in which case, the court will uphold that characterization if it is supported by substantial evidence of record. See 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(b)(1)(B)(i); American Trucking, 358 U.S. 133 (reversing decision of district court on the ground that substantial evidence supported Interstate Commerce Commission’s finding that an error was inadvertent and ministerial).

In the context of Rule 60(a), whether the alleged error is truly ministerial is generally the only question before the court. In that regard, it has been observed that a ministerial error “encompasses only errors mechanical in nature, apparent on the record, and not involving an error of substantive judgment,” or includes only “mindless and mechanistic mistakes [and] minor shifting of facts.” Pfizer Inc. v. Uprichard, 422 F.3d 124, 129-130 (3d Cir. 2005) (describing ministerial errors in a Rule 60(a) analysis) (internal quotes and citation omitted). Although the expansive final clause contained in definition of “ministerial error” set forth in section 1623d(e) (“ .. . and any other similar type of unintentional error which the Secretary considers ministerial”) may indicate a broader scope than Rule 60(a), the definition cannot be seen as open ended; mistakes of law or mistakes that require “cerebration or research into the law or planetary excursions into facts” are not reasonably viewed as ministerial errors. Pfizer, 422 F.3d at 130 (citing In re W. Tex. Mktg., 12 F.3d 497, 504 (5th Cir. 1994)).

The additional question of whether allowing the correction will result in procedural unfairness or prejudice appears limited to the context of administrative law. Courts have disallowed ministerial corrections where doing so violates statutorily-mandated procedural requirements (see Utility Solid Waste Activities Group v. E.P.A., 236 F.3d 749 (D.C. Cir. 2001) (setting aside EPARule amendment on the ground that rule correction, even if ministerial, required proper notice and comment procedure)); where a party was not afforded adequate due process at the agency level (see Zenith Electronics Corp. v. United States, 12 CIT 932, 699 F. Supp. 296 (1988) aff’d, 884 F.2d 566 (Fed. Cir. 1989) (enjoining Commerce from amending dumping margin where, inter alia, evidence suggested that plaintiff was not provided an opportunity to express its views on the errors before the agency)); and have indicated that a correction might be disallowed if the procedure were to cause unnecessary delay or expense to one of the parties (see NTN, 587 F. Supp.2d at 1316 (giving consideration to the court’s “obligations to prevent unfairness to any party and to avoid unnecessary delay or expense.”) (citing USCIT Rule 1)).

B.

In this action, the ministerial nature of the error is apparent from the record. In the Preliminary Results, the Department noted its decision to grant a CEP offset to Ehwa and Shinhan as a collapsed entity, 70 Fed. Reg. 77141, and it is undisputed that no party challenged the CEP offset. However, in the Final Results, the CEP offset was omitted from the margin calculations without either notation in the decision itself or discussion of the issue in the Decision Memorandum. In contrast, when Commerce (after receiving comments disputing the issue) changed its decision to collapse Ehwa and Shinhan and instead treated them as separate entities, it included in the Decision Memorandum nearly six pages of discussion on the matter. Decision Mem., 46-52. That the CEP offset was omitted without explanation mitigates strongly toward the conclusion that the omission was inadvertent, particularly when none of the interested parties disputed the preliminary grant of it, and where the failure to explain a decision to exclude it would have been improper. Accordingly, the court finds that the evidence supports the conclusion that the omission of the CEP offset was unintentional and hence a “ministerial error” pursuant to the broad definition of that term set forth in 19 C.F.R. § 351.224(f).

Although DSMC argues that the error is not ministerial, its argument is more accurately characterized as a disagreement with the manner in which the Department chose to correct the error, i.e., that the decision to allow a CEP offset for Ehwa and Shinhan as separate entities is not supported by substantial evidence of record. However, that point goes to the merits of the determination, which are not currently before the court. The only question at issue here is whether the Department’s omission of the CEP offset in the Final Results was an unintentional, ministerial error. DSMC presented its argument via the procedures for ministerial error comments set forth in regulation 351.224, but the Department ultimately disagreed and determined that the CEP offset was inadvertently omitted. Accordingly, DSMC’s argument is more appropriately raised in the complaint, or as the case may be, in an amended complaint.

DSMC next argues that the court should disallow the motion because the defendant “has not shown that good cause exists for the Court to grant its request” and notes that the Department’s correction “would have no effect on whether critical circumstances are established ....” Pl.’s Opp’n at 2. This argument is misplaced. As discussed supra, the courts are very much in favor of correcting ministerial errors where possible, and the clear Congressional preference for accuracy in antidumping determinations strengthens that tendency. Accordingly, if it is determined that an error is, in fact, ministerial, the burden of persuasion is essentially on the opponent of the motion to show good cause why the motion should not be granted by showing that prejudice or some other fundamental unfairness would result, and none has been shown here. DSMC’s “balance of hardships” argument is similarly irrelevant because such a test is simply not part of the determination.

DSMC asserts further that, “given the Department’s flawed analysis,” allowing correction of the errors would not increase the accuracy of the dumping margins, but only distort them further, and that delaying the ultimate adjudication of the issues serves only to prejudice the DSMC members. Pl.’s Opp’n at 5. These arguments go to the merits of the case and must be rejected in the context of the instant motion to correct ministerial errors. Moreover, given that the merits adjudication of this matter must await the outcome of Federal Circuit’s decision in Diamond Sawblades II, the corrections proposed by the Department will cause no delay whatsoever.

Finally, DSMC contends that “the issue of whether to correct the alleged ministerial errors is not properly before this court” because the CEP offset issue was not raised in this case (Court No. 06-00248) nor by the plaintiffs in the “companion case” (Court No. 09-00510). Accordingly, says DSMC, “this claim is outside the scope of the pleadings before the Court in either case,” and the court therefore lacks jurisdiction to consider it. Pl.’s Opp’n at 3-4 (citing Nat’l Ass’n of Mirror Manufacturers v. United States, 11 CIT 648, 670 F. Supp. 1013 (1987).

This argument must be rejected for several reasons. First, DSMC’s interpretation would seem to leave the issue in a jurisdictional limbo: Commerce is without jurisdiction to make the correction without leave of the court, but the court is without jurisdiction to grant the motion because it is allegedly “outside the scope of the pleadings.” Second, contrary to DSMC’s proposed theory, the jurisdictional questions addressed in British Steel and Mirror Manufacturers have no applicability in this matter. Those cases involved a party’s attempt to inject into the proceedings an additional claim or argument that was, in reality, a new and separate cause of action subject to the jurisdictional time limits set forth in section 1516a. See Mirror Manufacturers, 11 CIT at 649, 670 F. Supp. at 1014; British Steel Corp. v. United States, 10 CIT 661, 647 F. Supp. 928 (1986). The Department’s motion to correct ministerial errors does not constitute a “cause of action” challenging its own determination and is not subject to the jurisdictional time periods for seeking judicial review.

III.

Conclusion

In consideration of the foregoing, the court concludes that the Department should be permitted to issue and publish an amended determination that incorporates the ministerial corrections set forth in its motion. Accordingly, in consideration of all papers submitted herein, it is hereby

ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion for Leave to Publish Amended Final Results Correcting a Ministerial Error, as filed on January 13, 2010, be, and hereby is GRANTED and that the time for correcting the ministerial errors and publishing the amended determination will be within 15 days of the date of this order. It is further

ORDERED that if amended final results are issued, the plaintiff, pursuant to USCIT Rule 3(e), is hereby granted leave to file an amended summons and, pursuant to USCIT Rule 15(a), an amended complaint, by no later than 30 days after the Federal Register publication of the amended final results. It is further

ORDERED that the defendant-intervenors Ehwa Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd., SH Trading Inc., and Shinhan Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd., will maintain their status as defendant-intervenors following the issuance of an amended final results and the filing of an amended summons and complaint as authorized by this order. It is further

ORDERED that all other proceedings in this case be, and hereby are, STAYED pending issuance of a final and conclusive decision in Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers’ Coalition v. United States, Slip Op. 09-5, which is now pending appeal at the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. It is further

ORDERED that, in light of this order and the court’s January 26, 2010 vacatur of the three orders granting consent motions in Court Nos. 09-00508, 09-00509, and 09-00510, Defendant’s Motion to Expedite Consideration of this motion be, and hereby is, DENIED as moot.

1 Pursuant to the mandamus relief granted in Diamond Sawblades Mfrs.’ Coalition v. United States, 33 CIT _, 650 F. Supp 1331 (2009) (appeal docketed, Oct. 15, 2009) (“Diamond Saawblades III"), Commerce issued and published antidumping duty orders and ordered the collection of cash deposits on imports of subject merchandise. See Diamond Sawblades and Parts Thereof From the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea: Antidumping Duty Orders, 74 Fed. Reg. 57145 (Dep’t Commerce Nov. 4, 2009).