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Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co. Ltd. v. United States, Consol. 16-00157 (2018)

Court: United States Court of International Trade Number: Consol. 16-00157 Visitors: 1
Judges: Restani
Filed: Mar. 27, 2018
Latest Update: Mar. 03, 2020
Summary: 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 Rep
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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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PUBLIC VERSION
Court No. 16-00157                                                                         Page 13

                                                                                                ]].”

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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PUBLIC VERSION
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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PUBLIC VERSION
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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