Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co. Ltd. v. United States , 2018 CIT 31 ( 2018 )


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  •                                         Slip Op. 18-31
    UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
    CHANGZHOU TRINA SOLAR ENERGY
    CO., LTD.,
    Plaintiff,                    Before: Jane A. Restani, Judge
    SOLARWORLD AMERICAS, INC.,
    Consol. Court No. 16-00157
    Consolidated Plaintiff,
    .v.                                  PUBLIC VERSION
    UNITED STATES,
    Defendant.
    SOLARWORLD AMERICAS, INC., and
    CHANGZHOU TRINA SOLAR ENERGY
    CO., LTD.,
    Defendant-Intervenors.
    OPINION
    [Commerce’s remand results in countervailing duty administrative review of crystalline silicon
    photovoltaic cells from the People’s Republic of China sustained.]
    Dated: March 2018
    Robert Gosselink, Jarrod Goldfeder, and Jonathan Freed, Trade Pacific, PLLC, of
    Washington, DC, for Plaintiff and Defendant-Intervenor Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co.,
    Ltd.
    Timothy Brightbill and Usha Neelakantan, Wiley Rein, LLP, of Washington, DC, for
    Consolidated Plaintiff and Defendant-Intervenor SolarWorld Americas, Inc.
    Justin Miller, International Trade Field Office, U.S. Department of Justice, of New York,
    NY, for defendant. Of counsel on the brief was Lydia Pardini, Office of Chief Counsel for Trade
    Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, of Washington, DC.
    PUBLIC VERSION
    Court No. 16-00157                                                                        Page 2
    Restani, Judge:         Before the court are the U.S. Department of Commerce
    (“Commerce”)’s Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Court Remand from Commerce’s
    second administrative review of the countervailing duty order on crystalline silicon photovoltaic
    cells, whether or not assembled into modules (“solar cells”) from the People’s Republic of China
    (“PRC”). ECF No. 49 (confidential version) (“Remand Results”). See Crystalline Silicon
    Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled Into Modules, From the People’s Republic of
    China: Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2013, 81 Fed. Reg. 46,904
    (Dep’t Commerce July 19, 2016) (“Final AR Results”). This court having previously remanded
    the Final AR Results for Commerce to reassess its decision to average certain data sets in
    calculating a benchmark for solar glass, Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co., Ltd. v. United
    States, 
    255 F. Supp. 3d 1312
    (CIT 2017) (“Changzhou”), SolarWorld Americas, Inc.
    (“SolarWorld”) now contends that Commerce’s decision to continue averaging those data sets is
    unsupported by substantial evidence or otherwise not in accordance with law. The court sustains
    Commerce’s Remand Results for the reasons which follow.
    BACKGROUND
    The court presumes familiarity with the facts of the case as discussed in 
    Changzhou, 255 F. Supp. 3d at 1314
    –16; however, the facts relevant to the Remand Results are summarized
    below for ease of reference.
    Commerce’s Final AR Results determined a countervailable subsidy rate of 19.20 percent
    ad valorem for subject solar cells produced by both named respondents and other companies not
    individually examined. Final AR Results, 81 Fed. Reg. at 46,905. Of this, 12.97 percent was
    meant to countervail the provision of solar glass for less than adequate remuneration (“LTAR”).
    PUBLIC VERSION
    Court No. 16-00157                                                                         Page 3
    Issues and Decision Memorandum for the Final Results of the Countervailing Duty
    Administrative Review of Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled
    Into Modules, from the People's Republic of China; 2013, C-570-980, POR 01/01/2013-
    12/31/2013, at 8 (Dep’t Commerce July 12, 2016) (“Final I&D Memo”). Pursuant to 19 U.S.C.
    § 1677e(a)(1), Commerce based part of its countervailability determination regarding the PRC’s
    provision of solar glass on “facts otherwise available,” and employed a tier-two benchmark in
    calculating respondent’s benefit from the program. Final I&D Memo at 18–20. See also 19
    C.F.R. § 351.511(a)(2)(ii).
    This tier-two benchmark was established by averaging data from Information Handling
    Services Technology (“IHS”), submitted by respondent JA Solar, Crystalline Silicon
    Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled into Modules from the People's Republic of
    China: Benchmark Submission, C-570-980, POR 01/01/2013-12/31/2013, at Ex. 3A (Dep’t
    Commerce Nov. 2, 2015) (“2014 IHS Report”), with data from the Global Trade Atlas (“GTA”),
    submitted by petitioner SolarWorld, Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products, Whether
    or Not Assembled Into Modules, from the People's Republic of China: Submission of Factual
    Information - Benchmark Data, C-570-980, POR 01/01/2013-12/31/2013, at Ex. 7 (Dep’t
    Commerce Nov. 2, 2015) (“GTA Data”). Final I&D Memo at 22. In the decision below,
    SolarWorld challenged Commerce’s decision to average both datasets for its Final AR Results,
    contending that Commerce should have instead relied exclusively upon GTA data. 
    Changzhou, 255 F. Supp. 3d at 1320
    . Although the court sustained the Final AR Results in other respects, it
    remanded the results for Commerce to “reconsider its choice [to calculate its average using IHS
    data,] and if it chooses to adhere to it explain why a data set that may include taxes, may not be
    PUBLIC VERSION
    Court No. 16-00157                                                                            Page 4
    representative of the entire POR, and is only slightly more product specific, should be averaged
    with a [GTA] data set that generally lacks cause for concern.” 
    Id. at 1321.
    On remand, Commerce recalculated its countervailing subsidy rate, increasing it to 24.66
    percent ad valorem, with 18.43 percent meant to countervail the PRC’s provision of solar glass
    for LTAR. Remand Results at 6. Commerce continued to average IHS and GTA data. 
    Id. at 16.
    The change in rate was the result of Commerce’s sua sponte adjustment of its calculation method
    “to conform with [Commerce’s] standard monthly benchmark calculation methodology.” 
    Id. at 5,
    24. No party has challenged this aspect of Commerce’s recalculation, Consolidated Plaintiff
    SolarWorld Americas, Inc.’s Comments on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Final Results of
    Redetermination Pursuant to Remand, ECF No. 53, at 7 (confidential version) (“SolarWorld
    Cmts.”), which appears to be a reasonable adjustment. 1 The only issue before the court is thus
    1
    Commerce stated that:
    while the Department [of Commerce] used the monthly GTA data in its original
    benchmark calculation, we used that data to calculate a single average value for
    the entire POR (essentially converting the monthly data into an annual data point),
    averaged the resulting single value with the single IHS annual value, and then
    added monthly delivery charges. Thus, the original benchmark calculation
    eliminated the monthly variation in the GTA data, such that the variation among
    the calculated monthly benchmark values was solely the result of the monthly
    delivery charges. Such a calculation is inconsistent with the Department’s stated
    practice to calculate separate monthly averages when possible. Therefore, we
    recalculated the solar glass benchmark by calculating monthly averages of the
    GTA data, averaging the result for each month with the single IHS value for the
    year, and then adding monthly delivery charges. That is, we calculated a monthly
    average of the GTA data for January 2013, averaged that value with the single
    IHS value for 2013, and then added monthly delivery charges for January 2013 to
    reach a January 2013 benchmark; we repeated this calculation for each month of
    2013. When calculated in this manner, the monthly benchmark values varied as a
    (continued . . . )
    PUBLIC VERSION
    Court No. 16-00157                                                                          Page 5
    whether Commerce’s decision to continue using IHS data in its benchmark calculations is
    supported by substantial evidence and in accordance with law.
    JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
    The court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c). Commerce’s final results in a
    countervailing duty investigation are upheld unless “unsupported by substantial evidence on the
    record, or otherwise not in accordance with law[.]” 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(b)(1)(B)(i).
    DISCUSSION
    Before assessing a countervailing duty, Commerce must establish, inter alia, 2 that a
    benefit was conferred. 19 U.S.C. § 1677(5)(A)–(B). A foreign government’s provision of goods
    to a respondent for LTAR constitutes a benefit. 19 U.S.C. § 1677(5)(E)(iv). Here, the good in
    question is solar glass, provided by the PRC. The adequacy of remuneration is calculated by
    comparing the price paid by respondent to a market-determined price.                 19 C.F.R. §
    result of monthly fluctuations in the GTA data, as well as monthly fluctuations in
    the delivery charges.
    Remand Results at 24. See Remand of 2nd (2013) Administrative Review of the Countervailing
    Duty Order on Solar Cells from the PRC: Revised Calculation of Solar Glass Benchmark, C-
    570-980, POR 01/01/2013-12/31/2013, at Attach. II, pages 55–56 (Dep’t Commerce October 20,
    2017).
    2
    On remand, the concept of a “benefit” is the only element of the countervailable subsidy
    definition at issue.
    PUBLIC VERSION
    Court No. 16-00157                                                                          Page 6
    351.511(a)(2). 3 Where, as here, a market price “resulting from actual transactions in the country
    in question,” i.e., the PRC, is unavailable, Commerce turns to a “world market price.” 
    Id. § 351.511(a)(2)(i)–(ii).
      The parties submitted two datasets for Commerce to consider in
    calculating a world market price for solar glass: IHS from JA Solar and GTA from SolarWorld.
    Commerce’s regulations provide that, “[w]here there is more than one commercially available
    world market price, the Secretary will average such prices to the extent practicable, making due
    allowance for factors affecting comparability.” 
    Id. § 351.511(a)(2)(ii).
    In assessing the utility of each dataset, Commerce weighed four factors: (1) specificity to
    the input, solar glass; (2) contemporaneity with the period of review (“POR”); (3) units of
    measure; and (4) exclusivity of taxes and PRC prices. Final I&D Memo at 20–22. In the
    opinion below, the court found Commerce’s analysis deficient, particularly as concerned IHS
    data, and directed Commerce to address the following on remand: “the possible inclusion of
    taxes in the IHS data . . . Commerce must explicitly weigh this possible flaw and the IHS data’s
    other potential inaccuracy of reporting a single annual price, against the GTA data’s defect of
    3
    Commerce first attempts to identify a tier-one market price, or “benchmark,” which is one
    “resulting from actual transactions in the country in question.” 19 C.F.R. § 351.511(a)(2)(i). If a
    price from actual transactions is unavailable, Commerce turns to a tier-two benchmark, in which
    Commerce “compar[es] the government price to a world market price.” 
    Id. § 351.511(a)(2)(ii).
    For both tier-one and tier-two benchmarks, “[Commerce] will adjust the comparison price to
    reflect the price that a firm actually paid or would pay if it imported the product.” 
    Id. § 351.511(a)(2)(iv).
    No party challenges Commerce’s recourse to a tier-two benchmark for solar
    glass. Remand Results at 7. Parties likewise do not contest that Commerce properly adjusted the
    comparison price to reflect the price the firm would have paid had it imported the product. 19
    C.F.R. § 351.511(a)(2)(iv). See 
    Changzhou, 255 F. Supp. 3d at 1316
    .
    PUBLIC VERSION
    Court No. 16-00157                                                                         Page 7
    being slightly less specific than the IHS data.” 
    Changzhou, 255 F. Supp. 3d at 1326
    . 4
    Commerce’s Remand Results accordingly reassessed the IHS data’s tax exclusivity, the
    contemporaneity of both IHS and GTA data with the POR, and the relative product specificity of
    both IHS and GTA data. Remand Results at 6–14. Commerce concluded that the IHS data is
    tax-exclusive. 
    Id. at 15.
    It furthermore conceded that IHS data is deficient in providing only
    annual figures, but noted that GTA data is deficient in incorporating price data for non-solar
    glass, and concluded that each deficiency would be mitigated by averaging both datasets. 
    Id. at 15–16.
    For the following reasons, the court concludes that Commerce’s determinations are
    supported by substantial evidence and its approach is in accordance with the law.
    A.      Tax Exclusivity of IHS Data
    Commerce used IHS data from 2013 in calculating an average world market price. 2014
    IHS Report at 1; Final I&D Memo at 19–22. On remand, Commerce reopened the record,
    introduced a 2017 IHS report containing data from 2016, and allowed parties the opportunity to
    “rebut, clarify, or correct” the 2017 report. Remand of 2nd (2013) Administrative Review of the
    Countervailing Duty Order on Solar Cells from the PRC, C-570-980, POR 01/01/2013-
    12/31/2013, at 2 (Dep’t Commerce Aug. 24, 2017) (“2017 IHS Report”).                Neither party
    submitted responsive factual information. Remand Results at 5. Commerce relied on the
    following statement in the 2017 report to conclude that IHS data for 2013 is tax-exclusive: “All .
    . . pricing data presented in this report are calculated using a [[        ]] methodology [[
    4
    As used by Commerce, both sets were exclusive of PRC prices. 
    Changzhou, 255 F. Supp. 3d at 1321
    n.4 (citing Final I&D Memo at 22 (stating that Commerce adjusted IHS data to account
    for PRC prices)).
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    PUBLIC VERSION
    Court No. 16-00157                                                                            Page 8
    ]]. As such, .
    . . prices . . . are those generated by the manufacturer [[
    ]].” 2017 IHS Report at 3 (emphasis added).
    SolarWorld does not dispute that the above passage suggests that prices in the 2017 IHS
    Report are tax-exclusive. Furthermore, as observed by Commerce, [[
    ]] prices listed for 2013 are identical in the 2014 and 2017 reports. Compare
    2017 IHS Report at 10, 16, with 2014 IHS Report at 1, 18. The 2017 IHS Report unequivocally
    indicates that “[a]ll . . . pricing data presented in this report” reflect manufacturing costs. 2017
    IHS Report at 3. If all pricing data in the 2017 IHS Report are pre-tax figures, the historical
    pricing data therein must be tax-free. As the historical pricing data for 2013 is identical in both
    IHS reports, it logically follows that the 2013 pricing data in the 2014 IHS Report reflects tax-
    free figures. This alone supplies substantial evidence for Commerce’s conclusion.
    SolarWorld’s arguments against reliance on the 2017 IHS Report are unpersuasive. First,
    SolarWorld challenges the reasonableness of relying on a report outside the POR. SolarWorld
    Cmts. at 5. The court finds no reason to preclude all recourse to post-POR reports to clarify
    matters of methodology, where indicia of year-to-year consistency exist. In addition to the
    numerical consistencies noted above, a number of pages from the 2014 and 2017 editions are
    identical, i.e., [[
    ]] Compare 2017 IHS
    Report at 6–9; with 2014 IHS Report at 4–5, 9–10. The pages for “Solar Glass–Price Analysis”
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    PUBLIC VERSION
    Court No. 16-00157                                                                         Page 9
    are similarly structured, with updated numbers for 2014 and beyond. 5        Compare 2017 IHS
    Report at 10; with 2014 IHS Report at 18.
    The purpose of these reports is to forecast and identify trends over time, specifically the
    2010-2018 period in the case of the 2017 IHS Report. 2017 IHS Report at 3. SolarWorld
    conjectures, without evidence, that IHS may have adjusted its methodology in the intervening
    2015 or 2016 reports. SolarWorld Cmts. at 8. In addition to the lack of evidence, the court
    considers that the trend-identifying purpose of the 2017 IHS Report suggests a likelihood that
    changes or updates to historical data would be indicated. The IHS reports’ identical figures for
    the year 2013, for example, further suggest that the same method was applied in both reports on
    record. Accordingly, the court concludes that Commerce acted reasonably and in accordance
    with law in drawing its conclusions regarding the figures contained in the 2014 IHS Report
    based on the 2017 IHS Report.
    B.     Contemporaneity: Annual IHS Figures vs. Monthly GTA Figures
    On remand, Commerce challenged the court’s earlier statement that the price of solar
    glass fluctuates from month-to-month, but Commerce did not directly answer the court’s
    question of whether or not the “annual” prices in the 2014 IHS Report are averages of monthly
    values, or a narrower data point. Remand Results at 10–13, 16–20. See also Final I&D Memo at
    21. Rather, Commerce concluded that, considering the methods by which the IHS report was
    prepared, which suggest some broader data collection, the greater product specificity of the IHS
    5
    The above-cited passage of the 2017 IHS Report comes from that report’s “Introduction”
    section. The record excerpt of the 2014 IHS Report does not include the “Introduction” section.
    Compare 2017 IHS Report at 3; with 2014 IHS Report at 1–17.
    PUBLIC VERSION
    Court No. 16-00157                                                                          Page 10
    data, and the use of the IHS Report by [[     ]] industry subscribers, the single annual price does
    not require excluding the IHS dataset altogether. Remand Results at 12–13.
    Commerce argues that because GTA factored an indeterminate quantity of non-solar
    glass into its monthly price calculations, monthly changes in the GTA price were not necessarily
    due to changes in the price of solar glass. Remand Results at 10–11. Even if GTA price
    fluctuations do not necessarily correlate with proportional changes in solar glass prices, however,
    the significant annual changes in solar glass prices suggest some degree of sub-annual
    fluctuation. [[
    ]] Both parties agree
    that Commerce’s usual practice is to prefer monthly datasets where available. SolarWorld Cmts.
    at 6; Remand Results at 16–20.
    Despite this, Commerce utilized the “annual” prices from the IHS dataset in calculating
    its benchmark average. On remand, however, SolarWorld has failed to substantiate the existence
    of a uniform practice prohibiting the use of annual datasets. See SolarWorld Cmts. at 8–9;
    Remand Results at 16–20. Most cases cited by SolarWorld are easily distinguishable from the
    instant situation, 6 but Citric Acid from the PRC warrants further discussion. Citric Acid and
    6
    2014 Turkey Rebar involved Commerce’s selection of a monthly dataset over a quarterly
    dataset where no issues were identified with regard to the product specificity of the monthly data
    set. Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar From the Republic of Turkey: Final Affirmative
    Countervailing Duty Determination Final Affirmative Critical Circumstances Determination, 79
    Fed. Reg. 54,963 (Dep’t Commerce Sept. 15, 2014) (“2014 Turkey Rebar”); Issues and Decision
    Memorandum for the Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Final
    Affirmative Critical Circumstances Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation of
    Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar from the Republic of Turkey, C-489-819, POI 01/01/2012-
    12/31/2012, at VII.A.1 (Dep’t Commerce Sept. 8, 2014). This is simply an example of
    (continued . . . )
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    PUBLIC VERSION
    Court No. 16-00157                                                                        Page 11
    Certain Citrate Salts From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Countervailing Duty
    Administrative Review; 2011, 79 Fed. Reg. 108 (Dep’t Commerce January 2, 2014) (“Citric
    Acid from the PRC”). There, without addressing petitioner’s suggestion that the annual dataset
    was the only dataset specific to the input in question, 7 Commerce concluded that monthly data
    from the same HTS chapter was preferable. Issues and Decision Memorandum for the Final
    Results of the Countervailing Duty Administrative Review: Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts;
    2011, C-570-938, POR 01/01/2011-12/31/2011, at VII.I.G n.150 and Comment 13.D (Dep’t
    Commerce Dec. 26, 2013) (“Citric Acid I&D Memo.”).               Beyond recounting its general
    preference for monthly figures, however, Commerce did not indicate that annual datasets were
    per se unusable. Citric Acid I&D Memo. at Comment 13.D. That Commerce, in 2017 Rebar
    from Turkey, relied entirely on an annual dataset in lieu of a monthly dataset, due to, inter alia,
    specificity problems with the latter, indicates Commerce has made case-by-case, contextual
    determinations.
    [T]he Department continues to use the IEA annual data for purposes of
    calculating a benefit for this program. Although the Department has an
    established preference for monthly benchmark information, the GTIS data on the
    record of this investigation is reported in several different units . . . and,
    Commerce exercising its recognized preference for monthly datasets, all else being equal. 2010
    Kitchen Shelving from the PRC does not feature significant discussion of the relative merits of
    annual and monthly data. Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving and Racks From the People's
    Republic of China: Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2010, 78 Fed.
    Reg. 21,594 (Dep’t Commerce Apr. 11, 2013) (“2010 Kitchen Shelving from the PRC”); Issues
    and Decision Memorandum for the Final Results of the Countervailing Duty Administrative
    Review: Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving and Racks from the People's Republic of China, C-
    570-942, POR 01/01/2010-12/31/2010, at VI.A.6 (Dep’t Commerce Apr. 5, 2013).
    7
    From the petitioner’s comments: “In this case, the annual India data are the only benchmark
    specific to limestone flux and would represent the most accurate information on which to
    calculate the LTAR for limestone flux.” Citric Acid I&D Memo. at Comment 13.D.
    PUBLIC VERSION
    Court No. 16-00157                                                                         Page 12
    furthermore, implies widely variable natural gas conversion factors . . .
    Additionally, the specific facts on the record of this investigation demonstrate that
    the GTIS data includes shipments of compressed natural gas (CNG).
    Issues and Decision Memorandum for the Final Affirmative Determination in the Countervailing
    Duty Investigation of Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar from the Republic of Turkey, C-489-830,
    POI , at VII.A.1 and VIII.Comment.4 (Dep’t Commerce May 15, 2017). See also Steel
    Concrete Reinforcing Bar From the Republic of Turkey: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty
    Determination, 82 Fed. Reg. 23,188 (Dep’t Commerce May 22, 2017) (“2017 Rebar from
    Turkey”). Commerce’s use of IHS data fits within this pattern. The GTA data appears less
    flawed than the monthly dataset at issue in 2017 Rebar from Turkey, but instead of ignoring the
    GTA data entirely, as it did with the monthly data in 2017 Rebar from Turkey, Commerce has
    here chosen to average monthly GTA data with annual IHS data.
    Commerce determined that the following suggested the IHS Report’s annual figures were
    reliable: (1) the report was prepared by “[[
    ]]”; (2) it incorporates “[[
    ]]”; (3) and
    its “main targeted audience [[
    ]]. Remand Results at
    11–12 (quoting 2017 IHS Report at 3–4).         The foregoing suggests product specificity and
    professionalism in the report’s preparation, but offers no indication of exactly how IHS
    calculated its annual figures. The report further indicates that all research and analysis of 2016
    price data took place “[[
    ]],” but that “[[
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    ]].”
    2017 IHS Report at 4 (emphasis added). This suggests that these annual solar glass prices reflect
    some sort of averaging, although IHS’ input data was imperfect for Commerce’s purposes.
    Commerce’s dual conclusions that the IHS dataset’s reliance on annual figures
    constitutes a deficiency, but that this flaw does not, by itself, make the IHS data unusable are, in
    these circumstances, supported by substantial evidence.
    C.      Relative Product Specificity of the IHS and GTA Datasets
    On remand, Commerce continued to find that GTA data exhibited insufficient product
    specificity, “contrary to Commerce’s stated preference to utilize the narrowest category of
    products encompassing the input product (i.e., solar glass).”           Defendant’s Response to
    Comments Regarding the Remand Redetermination, ECF No. 60, at 7. The GTA data on record
    covered Harmonized Tariff Schedule (“HTS”) Subheading 7007.19: Safety glass, consisting of
    toughened (tempered) or laminated glass: Other. 8 See, e.g., GTA Data at 5.
    The 2014 IHS Report, on the other hand, isolates price figures for solar glass, and
    distinguishes toughened (tempered) glass from solar glass as follows: [[
    8
    The GTA data covers HTS Subheading 7007.19. For the relevant period, HTS Heading 7007
    was divided as follows:
    7007 Safety glass, consisting of toughened (tempered) or laminated glass
    7007.11.00 Of size and shape suitable for incorporation in vehicles, aircraft, spacecraft
    or vessels
    10    For motor vehicles of chapter 87
    90    Other
    7007.19.00     Other
    U.S. INT’L TRADE COMM’N, HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE OF THE UNITED STATES (2013),
    Section 70, at 7.
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    Court No. 16-00157                                                                      Page 14
    ]] 2014 IHS
    Report at 4. This bolsters Commerce’s earlier observation that solar glass is a more specialized
    category by virtue of its physical characteristics, including solar glass’ low iron content and
    thickness. See Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Results of the Countervailing Duty
    Administrative Review of Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled
    Into Modules, from the People's Republic of China; 2013, C-570-980, POR: 01/01/13-12/31/13,
    at 32 (Dep’t Commerce Dec. 31, 2015). 9
    SolarWorld argues that the vast majority of solar glass nevertheless falls under HTS
    Subheading 7007.19, SolarWorld Cmts. at 10; as Commerce notes, however, the relevant
    question for determining the product specificity of data tied to HTS Subheading 7007.19 is
    whether solar glass constitutes a significant percentage of all products entered under HTS
    Subheading 7007.19. 10 Remand Results at 22. Absent such information, and considering the
    9
    [[
    ]]
    10
    [[
    (continued . . . )
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    Court No. 16-00157                                                                         Page 15
    unique physical characteristics of solar glass, Commerce’s determination that the monthly GTA
    data is deficient as concerns product specificity, is therefore supported by substantial evidence.11
    Nevertheless, no party argues, and the record does not suggest, that this deficiency precludes all
    usage of the GTA dataset.
    In sum, the IHS and GTA datasets each have one significant, albeit nonfatal flaw.
    Neither is unusable, but neither satisfies all of Commerce’s factors. Absent a dataset which
    satisfies all four factors, the court concludes that Commerce’s decision to average two imperfect
    datasets was in accordance with law. See 19 C.F.R. § 351.511(a)(2)(ii).
    ]] though Commerce previously described tempered glass as a “relatively limited
    category.” Remand Results at 8.
    11
    U.S. Customs rulings further suggest the breadth of products covered by HTSUS Subheading
    7007.19, which had been held to include, for example, glass table tops and lamp parts by the
    time the GTA data on record was being compiled. Re: The tariff classification of two glass table
    tops from Indonesia, No. NY J87742 (Customs), 
    2003 WL 22357214
    (U.S. Customs Service
    Sept. 9, 2003); Re: Clear soda lime tempered cover glass lenses; Lamp parts; chapter 70; heading
    8539; EN 70.07; Additional U.S. Rule of Interpretation 1(c), No. HQ 956914 (Customs), 
    1995 WL 908516
    (U.S. Customs Service, Mar. 15, 1995) (importer sought classification under
    subheading 8539.90.00, but the subject lamp parts were instead classified under subheading
    7007.19.00).
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Document Info

Docket Number: Consol. 16-00157

Citation Numbers: 2018 CIT 31

Judges: Restani

Filed Date: 3/27/2018

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 3/27/2018