What is the least likely reason why ZP may need to change its accounting policies regarding inventory at some point after 2009?

A. The U.S. SEC is likely to require companies to use the same inventory valuation method for all inventories.

B. The U.S. SEC is likely to prohibit the use of one of the methods ZP currently uses for inventory valuation.

C. One of the inventory valuation methods used for U.S. tax purposes may be repealed as an acceptable method.

ZP Corporation is a (hypothetical) multinational corporation headquartered in Japan that trades on numerous stock exchanges. ZP prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Excerpts from ZP’s 2009 annual report are shown in Exhibits J−L.

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EXHIBITJ Consolidated Balance Sheets ( millions) Year Ended 31 December Current assets Cash and cash equivalents E Inventories Total current assets E Total assets I Total current liabilities E Total long-term liabilities Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries Total shareholders' equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 2008 542,849 608,572 4,028,742 1 10,819,440 3,980,247 E 2,663,795 218,889 3,956,509 10,819,440 2009 814,760 E 486,465 E 3,766,309 9,687,346 I 3,529,765 2,624,002 179,843 3,353,736 9,687,346