Case Name: BEIJING TIANHAI INDUSTRY CO., LTD., Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES, Defendant, and Norris Cylinder Company, Defendant-Intervenor
Court: United States Court of International Trade
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2015-10-14
Citations: 106 F. Supp. 3d 1342
Docket Number: Slip Op. 15-114; Court No. 12-00203
Parties: BEIJING TIANHAI INDUSTRY CO., LTD., Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES, Defendant, and Norris Cylinder Company, Defendant-Intervenor.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Supplement 3d
Volume: 106
Pages: 1342–1356

Head Matter:
BEIJING TIANHAI INDUSTRY CO., LTD., Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES, Defendant, and Norris Cylinder Company, Defendant-Intervenor.
Slip Op. 15-114.
Court No. 12-00203.
United States Court of International Trade.
Oct. 14, 2015.
Mark E. Pardo, Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman & Klestadt LLP, of Washington, DC, argued for plaintiff. With him on the brief was Andrew T. Schütz.
Douglas G. Edelschick, Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, of Washington, DC, argued for defendant. With him on the brief were Joyce R. Branda, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Jeanne E. Davidson, Director, and Franklin E. White, Jr., Assistant Director. Of counsel on the brief was Michael T. Ga-gain, Attorney, Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement & Compliance, United States Department of Commerce.
Edward M. Lebow, Haynes and Boone, LLP, of Washington, DC, argued for defendant-intervenor.

Opinion:
OPINION and ORDER
EATON, Judge:
Before the court is plaintiff Beijing Tianhai Industry Co., Ltd.'s ("Tianhai" or "plaintiff') motion for judgment on the agency record, pursuant to USCIT Rule 56.2. See Resp't's Mot. for J. on the Agency R. Pursuant to Rule 56.2 (ECF Dkt. No. 32). In Beijing Tianhai Industry Co. v. United States, 38 CIT -, 7 F.Supp.3d 1318 (2014) ("BTIC I"), the court remanded to the United States Department of Commerce ("Commerce" or the "Department") its final determination in the antidumping duty investigation of high pressure steel cylinders From the People's Republic of China ("PRC"). See High Pressure Steel Cylinders from the PRC, 77 Fed.Reg. 26,739 (Dep't of Commerce May 7, 2012) (final determination of sales at less than fair value), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum ("Issues & Dec. Mem.") (collectively, "Final Determination"); see also High Pressure Steel Cylinders From the PRC, 77 Fed.Reg. 37,377 (Dep't of Commerce June 21, 2012) (antidumping duty order). On remand, Commerce was directed to further explain the use of the average-to-transaction ("A-T") methodology for determining the presence of targeted dumping and for calculating plaintiffs dumping margin. See BTIC I, 38 CIT at -, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1337-38. Commerce supplemented its explanation in its Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Court Remand dated September 9, 2014. See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Ct. Remand (ECF Dkt. No. 85) ("Remand Results"). Jurisdiction lies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c) (2012) and 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(a)(2)(B)(i) (2012). For the reasons discussed below, the Remand Results are remanded.
BACKGROUND
In 2011, responding to a petition filed by defendant-intervenor Norris . Cylinder Company ("Norris" or "defendant-intervenor") alleging targeted dumping, the Department initiated an antidumping duty investigation of high pressure steel cylinders from the PRC ("subject merchandise") and selected plaintiff, a producer and exporter of subject merchandise from the PRC, as a mandatory respondent. See High Pressure Steel Cylinders from the PRC, 76 Fed.Reg. 33,213, 33,213 (Dep't of Commerce June 8, 2011) (initiation of anti- dumping duty investigation); Final Determination, 77 Fed.Reg. at 26,739. The period of investigation was October 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011 ("POI"). Final Determination, 77 Fed.Reg. at 26,739.
During its investigation, Commerce found that the statute permitted the use of an alternátive methodology (i.e., A-T) to determine if targeted dumping had occurred, and to calculate plaintiffs dumping margin. See Issues & Dec. Mem. at cmt. IV. The Department issued its Preliminary Determination of sales at less than fair value on December 15, 2011. See High Pressure Steel Cylinders From the PRC, 76 Fed.Reg. 77,964 (Dep't of Commerce Dec. 15, 2011) (preliminary determination of sales at less than fair value) ("Preliminary Determination"). In its preliminary investigation, Commerce used the targeted dumping test that has come to be known as the Nails test. After applying the test, the Department determined that there was "a pattern of prices for comparable merchandise that differed] significantly by time period." Preliminary Determination, 76 Fed.Reg. at 77,968.
To preliminarily determine the presence of dumping and to calculate plaintiffs anti-dumping duty rate, the Department used the A-T methodology because it found that its normally used average-to-average ("AA") methodology could not properly account for the differing pattern of sales prices. Id. When making its dumping determination, the Department applied the A-T methodology, with zeroing, to all of plaintiffs U.S. sales during the POI. See id.
In the Final Determination, the Department continued to use the Nails test and continued to find that there was a pattern of sales that differed significantly by time period. Issues & Dec. Mem. at cmt. IV. Commerce again used the A-T methodology to determine if dumping had in fact occurred and to calculate the antidumping rate. See id. The Department also continued to apply its zeroing methodology to all of plaintiffs U.S. sales. See id. In the Final Determination, the Department calculated a weighted-average dumping margin of 6.62% for Tianhai during the POI. Final Determination, 77 Fed.Reg. at 26,742.
Following issuance of the Final Determination, plaintiff moved for judgment on the agency record pursuant to USCIT Rule 56.2. In BTIC I, the court held that two of plaintiffs claims were wanting. First, the court found that "plaintiff failed to exhaust its administrative remedy with respect to its 'pattern' argument," and, thus, declined to consider it. BTIC I, 38 CIT at —, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1331. Next, with regard to the application of 19 C.F.R. § 351.414(f) (2007), which limited the application of the A-T method to targeted sales, and which plaintiff argued was improperly withdrawn, the court found that, even if Commerce erred in withdrawing the regulation, "that error ['was] harmless as it applies to plaintiff, and the Department is not bound by the withdrawn regulation here." Id. at -, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1333.
The court also found insufficient Commerce's explanation for why the observed pricing pattern between the targeted and non-targeted time periods could not be accounted for using either of the general methodologies prescribed by statute, i.e., A-A or transaction-to-transaction ("T-T"), and thus, that the A-T methodology, an exception to the general methodologies, should be employed. See id. at -, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1331-32; see also 19 U.S.C. § 1677f — 1(d)(1). Because "[t]he Department's failure to provide an explanation sufficient to satisfy 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(ii) was an error of law," the court found that "a remand for the Department to provide such explanation [was] required." Id. at -, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1332. The court therefore granted plaintiffs USCIT Rule 56.2 motion, in part, and in remanding the case to the Department, (1) directed Commerce to further explain its selected methodology for calculating Tianhai's dumping margin and (2) reserved decision on the other issues that might be rendered moot if Commerce changed its methodology on remand. See id. at -, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1337-38.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
"The court shall hold unlawful any determination, finding, or conclusion found . to be unsupported by substantial evidence on the record, or otherwise not in accordance with law." 19 U.S:C. § 1516a(b)(1)(B)(i). "The results of a re-determination pursuant to court remand are also reviewed for compliance with the court's remand order." Yantai Xinke Steel Structure Co. v. United States, 38 CIT -, -, Slip Op. 14-38, at 4, 2014 WL 1387529 (2014) (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted).
DISCUSSION
I. Legal Framework
A. Statutory Framework
"[I]n 'situations where comparable merchandise differ[s] significantly among purchasers, regions, or periods of time,' " Commerce may determine if dumping has occurred by using the A-T methodology. See JBF RAK LLC v. United States, 790 F.3d 1358, 1361 (Fed.Cir.2015) (alteration in original) (quoting U.S. Steel Corp. v. United States, 621 F.3d 1351, 1359 (Fed.Cir.2010)); See 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1). During an antidumping investigation, the Department ordinarily determines whether dumping has occurred by using one of the two methodologies (i.e., A-A or T-T) identified in 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(A). The general rule under the A-A methodology is that, when determining an exporter's dumping margin, the Department will "comparte] the weighted average of the normal values to the weighted average.of the export prices (and constructed export prices) for comparable merchandise" during the period of investigation. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(A)(i). If the difference between the weighted average normal values of an exporter's merchandise and the weighted average of the export prices is a positive number, then dumping has occurred. See BTIC I, 3,8 CIT at -, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1325. Thus, 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(A)(i) provides for an A-A comparison to determine whether dumping has occurred.
The Department is also permitted to determine whether dumping has occurred, and to set an exporter's margin, by using the T-T methodology, by which it may "comparte] the normal values of individual transactions to the export prices . of individual transactions for comparable merchandise." 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(A)(ii). By regulation, however, this methodology is permitted only in special circumstances. See 19 C.F.R. § 351.414(c)(1) ("The Secretary [of Commerce] will use the [T-T] method only in unusual situations, such as when there are very few sales of subject merchandise and the merchandise sold in each market is identical or very similar or is custom-made.").
In addition to the A-A and T-T methodologies, the statute provides for an exception to the general methodologies, the A-T methodology, to be used to "determine whether the subject merchandise is being sold in the United States at less than fair value," and, if so, to calculate a dumping margin. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B). When applying the A-T methodology, Commerce "eompar[es] the weighted average of the normal values to the export prices (or constructed export prices) of individual transactions for comparable merchandise." Id. In providing for the use of this alternate methodology, Congress recognized that there might be situations where the usual "methodologies] cannot account for a pattern of prices that differ significantly among purchasers, regions, or time periods, ie., where targeted dumping may be occurring." Uruguay Round Agreements Act, Statement of Administrative Action ("SAA"), H.R. Doc. No. 103-316, at 843 (1994), reprinted in 1994 U.S.C.C.A.N. 4040, 4178. Congress anticipated that the patterns of sales might be identifiable on the basis of "purchasers, regions, or time periods." SAA, H.R.. Doc. No. 103-316, at 843, reprinted in 1994 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 4178. Thus, the statute provides that the Department
may determine whether the subject merchandise is being sold in the United States at less than fair value by comparing the weighted average of the normal values to the export prices (or constructed export prices) of individual transactions for comparable merchandise, if—
(i) there is a pattern of export prices (or constructed export prices) for comparable merchandise that differ significantly among purchasers, regions, or periods of time, and
(ii) the administering authority explains why such differences cannot be taken into account using [A-A or T-T].
19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B); see also SAA, H.R. Doc. No. 103-316, at 843, reprinted in 1994 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 4178 ("Before relying on this methodology, however, Commerce must establish and provide an explanation why it cannot account for such differences through the use of [A-A] or [T-T].")- In other words, before it may employ the A-T methodology, the statute requires the Department to (1) identify a pattern of pricing that differs significantly among purchasers, and then also (2) explain what about that particular pattern makes the use of A-A or T-T inappropriate. Once the Department finds that it has satisfied 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(i) and (ii), it may compare the weighted average of the normal values to each individual export (or constructed export) price to determine an exporter's margin. Thus, if both requirements of § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B) are met, the Department may use A-T to find that dumping has taken place and determine the producer's or exporter's dumping margin.
B. The Nails Test
Here, before Commerce could take advantage of the exception provided in the statute and employ the A-T methodology it first had to conclude that there was a pattern of sales prices that differed significantly over time. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(i). In this case, in order to meet the requirements of 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(i), the Department engaged in a two-step analysis referred to as the Nails test. The Nails test proceeds in two steps, each performed on a product-specific basis by control number or "CON-NUM." The first step is referred to as the "standard-deviation test." JBF RAK, 790 F.3d at 1367 n. 5. In this step, if 33% or more of the alleged targeted group's (i.e., customer, region, or time period) "sales of subject merchandise (by sales volume) . are at prices more than one standard deviation below the weighted-average price of all sales under review," then those sales pass the standard deviation test and are considered in step two: the "gap test." Id. (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted). When performing the gap test, Commerce considers whether the "gap" "between the weighted-average price of sales for [the] allegedly targeted group and the next highe[st] weighted-average price of sales to the non-targeted groups exceeds the average price gap (weighted by sales volume) for the non-targeted groups." Id. (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted). In other words, if the gap between the targeted group and the next-highest non-targeted group is greater than the average gap, those sales pass the gap test. "If more than 5% of total sales of the subject merchandise to the alleged target pass both tests, Commerce determines that targeting has occurred." Timken, 38 CIT at -, 968 F.Supp.2d at 1283. This Court in BTIC I found the two steps of the Nails test to be a reasonable method for determining whether the requirements of 19 U.S.C. § 1677f—1(d)(1)(B)(i) have been met. See BTIC I, 38 CIT at -, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1328.
II. RemaNd Results
Although Commerce adequately identified a pattern of sales that differed over time using the Nails test, in BTIC I, the court remanded the issue of the Department's selection of the A-T method for determining whether dumping was present and for calculating Tianhai's weighted-average dumping margin. See BTIC I, 38 CIT at -, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1337-38. In doing so, the court found that Commerce had not explained adequately why the A-T methodology was appropriate because Commerce did not "mention . how the Department reached [its] conclusion" or "referencef ] any record evidence supporting [its] conclusion." Id. at —, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1331. Because the statute states that Commerce must "'explain[] why such differences cannot be taken into account' using A-A or T-T," the court directed Commerce to explain, on remand, why the A-A and T-T methodologies were inappropriate. Id. at -, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1326 (quoting 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(ii)).
The court, in BTIC I, further observed that:
In creating an explanation requirement in 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(ii), Congress anticipated that "pattem[s] of prices that differ significantly among purchasers, regions, or time periods," could sometimes be accounted for without resorting to A-T. Accordingly, Congress required the Department to explain why A-A and T-T cannot account for a pattern of disparate prices before using A-T. Thus, if no explanation other than the bare-bones invocation of the differing natures of the [A-A] and [A-T] methodologies would suffice to satisfy 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(ii), as defendant and defendant-intervenor would have it, that statutory provision would be superfluous.
Id. at -, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1332 (quoting SAA, H.R. Doc. No. 103-316, at 843, reprinted in 1994 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 4178 ("Before relying on this methodology, however, Commerce must establish and provide an explanation why it cannot account for such differences through the use of an average-to-average or transaction-to-transaction comparison.")).
Here, in the Remand Results, Commerce stated that it could not use the T-T method because this determination involved a less-than-fair-value investigation in a nonmarket economy country "in which the Department used a factors of production method to determine normal value," and normal value was "thus based . on the valuation of [Tianhai's] factors of production using surrogate values rather than on home market or third country transactions." Remand Results at 4-5. In other words, Commerce elaborated, "there simply is no corresponding home market or third country sales database that would allow [the Department] to compare [Tianhai's] individual home market or third country transactions to its individual U.S. sales transactions." Remand Results at 5. Thus, no T-T comparison was possible. Because, as Commerce points out, there were no usable transactions in the PRC to compare to domestic U.S. transactions, the' court finds the Department's explanation with respect to the T-T methodology to be reasonable, and its explanation' for not using T-T adequate. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(ii). .
Next, Commerce found that the price differences, for purposes of the first step of the Nails test, could not be determined using the A-A methodology. See Remand Results at 5-6. When making this finding, Commerce stated:
To satisfy the second part of the statutory test, i.e., to explain why the differ^ enees cannot be taken into account using the [A-A] method, in the underlying investigation, we calculated the estimated weighted-average dumping margins using both the [A-A] method and the [AT] method. In this specific case, we find that the price differences cannot be taken into account using the [A-A] method, as evidenced by the fact that [Tianhai's] estimated weighted-average dumping margin crossed the de minimis threshold specified in [19 U.S.C. § 1673b(b)(3) ] (i.e., two percent ad valorem ) when we applied the [A-T] method instead of the [A-A] method. In other words, [Tianhai's] estimated weighted-average dumping margin calculated using the [A-A] method Was below the de minimis threshold, and [Tianhai's] estimated weighted-average dumping margin calculated using the [A-T] method was 6.62 percent. In light of [the] fact that the estimated weighted-average dumping margin crosses the de minimis threshold specified in [§ 1673b(b)(3) ] when the [A-T], rather than the [A-A], comparison method is applied, the Department finds that the [A-A] method cannot account for the price differences.
Remand' Results at 5-6 (footnotes omitted). Put another way, using the Nails test, Commerce first found a difference in price pattern between the targeted and non-targeted time periods that indicated that dumping had occurred during the targeted period. Next, Commerce applied the A-A methodology, but that methodology did not yield a dumping margin that was sufficient in magnitude to result in an antidumping order. When it applied the A-T methodology, however, a larger margin was found. Because this larger margin exceeded the. two-percent threshold, provided by statute as necessary for the imposition of an antidumping order when a margin is determined using A-A, Commerce concluded that the observed differences in price pattern did indeed indicate that targeted dumping had occurred, but was concealed using the A-A methodology.
With respect to this explanation, it is important to keep in mind how the Nails test fits into the analysis required by 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1 (d)(1)(B)(i). The Nails test does not demonstrate that targeted dumping has taken place. Rather, the test merely identifies "a pattern of [sales] prices that differ significantly among . time periods, i.e., where targeted dumping may be occurring." See SAA, H.R. Doc. No. 103-316, at 843, reprinted in 1994 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 4178. Dumping in targeted dumping cases, as in all dumping cases, is determined by a comparison of normal value to export price. The question is which methodology (i.e., A-A, T-T, or AT) is appropriate under the facts of each investigation. Should Commerce choose to use the A-T methodology, the statute requires the Department to explain why the two general methodologies could not be used. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(ii) ("The [Department] may determine whether the subject merchandise is being sold in the United States at less than fair value by comparing the weighted average of the normal values to the export prices (or constructed export prices) of individual transactions for comparable merchandise, if . [Commerce] explains why such differences cannot be taken into account using [the A-A or T-T methods]." (emphasis added)).
On remand, Commerce has supplied what it claims is an adequate explanation for why A-T should be used here. Its reasoning, however, relies on a form of confirmation bias: Commerce's explanation is that, because substantial dumping was not found using A-A, but substantial dumping was found using A-T, it was permissible for the Department to use the alternative A-T methodology. See Remand Results at 5-6; see also Issues & Dec. Mem. at cmt. IV. This statement, however, is simply inadequate. The statute requires that the Department explain why A-A (or T-T) cannot take into account the pattern of pricing differences "among purchasers, regions, or periods of time" before it may proceed to using the A-T methodology. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B). Here, Commerce states a fact when it says that it finds substantial dumping using A-T and not when using A-A, but that fact alone does not explain why A-A cannot account for the differences. Rather, if this is an explanation at all, it explains that Commerce chose to use the A-T methodology because it showed, not dumping, but a greater level of dumping. Merely because the A-A methodology did not result in a significant dumping margin and the A-T methodology did, however, it does not necessarily follow that the statute permits the application of A-T to determine plaintiffs dumping margin.
It is plain from its structure, that the statute requires more than a finding of greater dumping before the use of the A-T methodology is permitted. If, as the Department would have the court believe, Congress intended that the only requirement before the A-T methodology could' be used was a finding of greater dumping using A-T itself, 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(ii)'s explanation requirement would be rendered effectively a nullity. Indeed, under that reading, in every case where the Department wished to use the A-T methodology and was able to identify dumping above the de minimis level using that exception methodology, it would be permitted to do so regardless of whether the general A-A or T-T methodologies were more appropriate, and without any further explanation as to why those methodologies were inadequate.
Here, the Department has chosen a narrative rather than an explanation. Because Commerce has failed to satisfy the requirements of the statute, this issue must be remanded for Commerce to supply the explanation required by 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(ii).
III. Deferred Issues
As previously explained, in BTIC I, the court remanded the issue of the methodology used by the Department to determine whether dumping had occurred, and if so, to -establish a dumping margin, but refrained from addressing plaintiffs three other arguments. Because the Federal Circuit has addressed one of the three arguments, and because the two others can be disposed of easily, they will be considered here.
A. Commerce Is Not Required to Consider Whether the Pattern Was Caused by a Valid Commercial Reason
Before the court, plaintiff argues that Commerce was required to consider whether there were alternate explanations for the alleged targeted dumping. See Pl.'s Mem. of Law in Supp. of Mot. for J. on the Agency R. Pursuant to Rule 56.2 26-29(ECF Dkt. No. 32) ("Pl.'s Br."). Plaintiff contends that (1) if the "pattern" of price differences was caused by a valid commercial reason (i.e., not dumping), then the A-T exception does not apply, and (2) in Tianhai's case, the pattern was, in fact, caused by a valid commercial reason, and not dumping. Pl.'s Br. 29.
The Federal Circuit has recently addressed the issue of whether Commerce is required to consider alternate explanations for "a pattern of export prices . that differs significantly among . time periods," and has found that it is not. See JBF RAK, 790 F.3d at 1368 ("Section 1677f—1(d)(1)(B) does not require Commerce to determine the reasons why there is a pattern of export prices for comparable merchandise that differs significantly among purchasers, regions, or time periods, nor does it mandate which comparison methods Commerce must use in administrative reviews . [Requiring Commerce to determine the intent of a targeted dumping respondent 'would create a tremendous burden on Commerce that is not required or suggested by the statute.' " (quoting JBF RAK LLC v. United States, 38 CIT -, -, 991 F.Supp.2d 1343, 1355 (2014))); see also Borusan Mannesmann Boru Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. v. United States, 608 Fed.Appx. 948, 949-50 (Fed.Cir.2015) ("In light of our decision in JBF RAK, and because Borusan has merely challenged Commerce's failure to consider Borusan's alternate explanation for the observed pricing patterns, we affirm the Court of International Trade's judgment sustaining Commerce's calculation of a 3.55% dumping margin using the average-to-transaction comparison methodology."). Thus, because the Federal Circuit has found that Commerce is not required to consider alternate explanations for an observed pricing pattern, plaintiffs argument, that, here, the "pattern" of price differences was caused by a valid commercial reason (i.e., not dumping), necessarily fails.
B. Commerce's Application of Zeroing Was Reasonable
Plaintiff also argues that, even if the use of the A-T methodology were appropriate, the Department was not permitted to employ its zeroing methodology. See Pl.'s Br. 29-35. According to plaintiff: (1) "the statute is ambiguous with respect to the application of the zeroing methodology"; (2) Commerce has an "established policy . that it will not apply zeroing in anti-dumping duty investigations"; and (3) because (1) and (2) are true, "Commerce must provide an independent justification for the application of its zeroing methodology." See Pl.'s Br. 30-31. Plaintiff thus maintains that Commerce cannot justify the application of zeroing simply because the Department has selected the "exception" methodology (i.e., the A-T methodology). Pl.'s Br. 31.
In Union Steel v. United States, the Federal Circuit affirmed Commerce's abandonment of zeroing when using the A-A methodology with respect to investigations, but permitted the use of zeroing in reviews employing the A-T methodology, holding that:
The [World Trade Organization's ("WTO") ] decision was limited; it found that Commerce's use of zeroing methodology with respect to [A-A] comparisons in antidumping duty investigations was inconsistent with the United States' international obligations. The Executive Branch responded by discontinuing its zeroing practice in new and pending investigations using [A-A] comparison methodology. Commerce, did not, however, alter its practice with respect to the use of zeroing methodology in anything other than investigations using [A-A] comparisons . Commerce's modification was limited to changes that were necessary to comply with the WTO decision.
Union Steel v. United States, 713 F.3d 1101, 1110 (Fed.Cir.2013) (citations omitted). In other words, the Department did not abandon zeroing in A-A investigations after concluding that zeroing led to an unfair result, or provided an inaccurate result, but rather, because it was obliged to do so by our trading partners. See id.
The Union Steel Court also found that Commerce's decision to use or not use the zeroing methodology reasonably reflects unique goals in differing comparison methodologies. In average-to-average comparisons, as used in investigations, Commerce examines average export prices; zeroing is not necessary because high prices offset low prices within each averaging group. When examining individual export transactions, using the average-to-transaction comparison methodology, prices are not averaged and zeroing reveals masked dumping. This ensures the amount of antidumping duties assessed better reflect the results of each average-to-transaction comparison. Commerce's differing interpretation is reasonable because the comparison methodologies compute dumping margins in different ways and are used for different reasons.
Id. at 1109 (footnote omitted). Therefore, the Federal Circuit has found zeroing to be reasonable in at least some A-T situations. Plaintiff acknowledges these findings of the Federal Circuit in Union Steel, yet maintains that the case did not establish that Commerce was entitled to use zeroing whenever the A-T method is employed. See Pl.'s Reply Br. 14 (ECF Dkt. No. 50) ("Pl.'s Reply Br."). Rather, plaintiff maintains that "the proper focus of the inquiry into whether zeroing is appropriate should be the type of proceeding and purpose it serves as opposed to the sales comparison method being employed." PL's Reply Br. 14. Put another way, for plaintiff, the Union Steel Court did not necessarily hold that zeroing could be used in A-T comparisons in targeted dumping investigations as well as in reviews.
The court cannot agree. As the court noted in BTIC I, "the Federal Circuit has 'repeatedly addressed zeroing and has held 19 U.S.C. § 1677(35)(A) ambiguous and deferred to Commerce's reasonable interpretation of that statute.' " BTIC I, 38 CIT at - n. 9, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1337 n. 9 (quoting Union Steel, 713 F.3d at 1104). Indeed, before the WTO intervened, the Federal Circuit found the use of zeroing lawful in both investigations and reviews. See Corus Staal BV v. Dep't of Commerce, 395 F.3d 1343, 1347 (Fed.Cir.2005).
In the Final Determination, Com- . merce provided the following explanation for its application of zeroing here:
Our interpretation [that 19 U.S.C. § 1677(35) ] permits zeroing in the [AT] methodology, as in this investigation, and permits offsetting in the [A-A] methodology reasonably accounts for differences inherent in the distinct comparison methodologies.
. As such, we find that the petitioner is correct that the intent of [19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1) ] is not effectuated if offsets are used under the alternative [AT] methodology. This is so because record evidence shows that for [Tianhai], the [A-A] methodology masks differences in the patterns of prices between the targeted and non-targeted groups by averaging low-priced sales to the targeted group with high-priced sales to the non-targeted group.
Issues & Dec. Mem. at cmt. IV. This explanation comports with the Federal Circuit's holding in Union Steel. See Union Steel, 713 F.3d at 1107 ("Commerce's decision to modify its zeroing practice has previously been sustained by this court. In U.S. Steel, the court sustained Commerce's decision to. cease zeroing when making average-to-average comparisons in antidumping duty investigations while recognizing Commerce intended to continue zeroing in other circumstances. The court relied upon the differences among various types of comparison methodologies, recognizing that 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1) allows Commerce to use average-to-transaction comparisons in investigations where certain patterns of significant price differences exist." (citing U.S. Steel Corp. v. United States, 621 F.3d 1351, 1355 n. 2, 1362-63 (Fed.Cir.2010))). The Federal Circuit has observed that "[n]o rule of law precludes Commerce from interpreting 19 U.S.C. § 1677(35) differently in different circumstances as long as it provides an adequate explanation." Id. at 1110.
In [A-A] comparisons/ as used in investigations, Commerce examines average export prices; zeroing is not necessary because high prices offset low prices within each averaging group. When examining individual export transactions, using the [A-T] comparison methodology, prices are not averaged and zeroing reveals masked dumping. This ensures the amount of antidumping duties assessed better reflect the results of each [A-T] comparison.
Id. at 1109. This explanation also fits to the facts of this case.
Therefore, for the foregoing reasons, plaintiffs arguments regarding zeroing are unconvincing and the court finds that Commerce's application of zeroing was reasonable in this case.
C. Commerce's Application of the AT Methodology Was Reasonable Despite the Small Number of Tianhai's Targeted Sales
Last, Tianhai asks the court to consider the issue of "whether it was reasonable for Commerce to apply its targetéd dumping remedy to 100%[ ] of [Tianhai's] reported sales database when only 5.04% of [Tianhai's] sales were identified as being target ed." See Comments on Final Remand Re-determination 2 (ECF Dkt. No. 87); Pl.'s Br. 18-26. Specifically, plaintiff argues that the Department should have considered whether the number of dumped sales was too small to justify application of the targeted dumping margin to all of its sales. According to plaintiff, "[i]t is illogical and arbitrary for Commerce to attempt to satisfy the statutory requirements for use of the targeted dumping exception by reference to a small subset of [Tianhai's] sales data and then claim that it is justified in applying the targeted dumping methodology to 100% of [Tianhai's] sales database." Pl.'s Reply Br. 6. For plaintiff, because "only . 10 transactions . passed both prongs of Commerce's targeted dumping test, and these transactions comprise only 5.04% of [Tianhai's] sales database by quantity (of which only three transaction^] comprising just 1.23% of the database were sales below fair value)," it was unreasonable for Commerce to apply its targeted dumping remedy to all of Tianhai's reported sales. See Pl.'s Reply Br. 6.
The Chevron line of cases provides guidance to courts when a statute is silent or ambiguous. See Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 81 L.Ed.2d 694 (1984). "[A]gencies are entitled to formulate policy and make rules 'to fill any gap left, implicitly or explicitly, by Congress.' " SKF USA Inc. v. United States, 254 F.3d 1022, 1030 (Fed.Cir.2001) (quoting Chevron, 467 U.S. at 843, 104 S.Ct. 2778). Relying on these cases, and because of the gap in the targeted dumping provision left by Congress, this Court has held that the Department's policies filling that gap are entitled to deference so long as they are reasonable. See Timken Co. v. United States, 38 CIT -, -. n. 7, 968 F.Supp.2d 1279, 1286 n. 7 (2014), aff'd, 589 Fed.Appx. 995 (Fed.Cir.2015).
Here, although plaintiffs "fairness" argument may have some surface appeal, it cannot be said that Commerce's determination was unreasonable. Both the statute and the legislative history of 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1 are "silent as to the body of sales to which Commerce will apply the exception methodology." Chang Chun Petrochemical Co. v. United States, 37 CIT -, -, 906 F.Supp.2d 1369, 1375 (2013). That is, the statute gives no indication as to whether the margin determined by the exception A-T methodology should be applied to all of a respondent's subject merchandise following an investigation, or only to part. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B). With respect to margins determined by the other methodologies in investigations where a producer or exporter is found to have dumped subject merchandise, the degree of dumping found in the dumping margin becomes the anti-dumping duty rate, which in turn becomes the cash deposit rate for all of the merchandise entered during the period of investigation. See 19 C.F.R. § 351.212. At no point in § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B) is there any indication that, unlike margins determined by these other methodologies, a margin determined by A-T should be restricted only to the merchandise entered during the time period of targeted dumping. Therefore, because the statute is silent as to whether a margin determined by the AT methodology should be employed in a manner different from one determined in accordance with § 1677f-1(d)(1)(A), there is nothing to indicate that it is unreasonable to apply the resulting margin to all of defendant's sales.
Because Commerce is entitled to deference with respect to its interpretation of how broadly the margin will be applied, the Department may apply the rate to all of plaintiffs sales if it is reasonable to do so. See Chevron, 467 U.S. at 843-44, 104 S.Ct. 2778. Plaintiff cites to nothing in the statute indicating that Congress intended a different result when the A-T methodology is used to determine a dumping margin, rather than when A-A or T-T comparisons are used; that is, that the resulting margin should be applied to all sales. See Touche Ross & Co. v. Redington, 442 U.S. 560, 571, 99 S.Ct. 2479, 61 L.Ed.2d 82 (1979). Accordingly, plaintiff has not shown that the application of the resulting rate to all of its sales was unreasonable. See Chevron, 467 U.S. at 843-44, 104 S.Ct. 2778. It is worth noting, however, that if Commerce chose to do so, it might well be able to provide a reasonable justification for applying margins resulting from the use of the A-T methodology to only a portion of a respondent's sales following an investigation.
Thus, although it remains to be seen if Commerce can provide an adequate explanation for using the A-T methodology in this case, should it do so, its authority to apply the resulting margin to all of plaintiffs sales is not in doubt.
CONCLUSION and ORDER
For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby
ORDERED that Commerce's Final Results of Redetermination are remanded; it is further
ORDERED that, on remand, Commerce shall issue a redetermination that complies in all respects with this Opinion and Order, is based on determinations that are supported by substantial record evidence, and is in all respects in accordance with law; it is further
ORDERED that, on remand, should the Department continue to find the application of the A-T methodology to be appropriate, it must provide an adequate explanation, in accordance with 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(ii), as to why the general methodologies (i.e., the A-A and T-T methodologies) cannot account for the pattern identified under § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(i); it is further
ORDERED that the Department may, in its discretion, reopen the record to solicit any additional information it deems necessary to make its determinations; and it is further
ORDERED that the remand results shall be due on December 14, 2015; comments to the remand results shall be due thirty (30) days following filing of the remand results; and replies to such comments shall be due fifteen (15) days following filing of the comments.
. The A-T methodology "compartes] the weighted average of the normal values to the export prices (or constructed export prices) of individual transactions" when making a less-than-fair-value determination. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B) (2006).
. "The Nails test derives its name from the cases in which it was first used." Timken Co. v. United States, 38 CIT -, - n. 3, 968 F.Supp.2d 1279, 1283 n. 3 (2014) (citing Certain Steel Nails from the PRC, 73 Fed.Reg. 33,977 (Dep't of Commerce June 16, 2008) (final determination of sales at less than fair value and partial affirmative determination of critical circumstances); Certain Steel Nails from the United Arab Emirates, 73 Fed.Reg. 33,985 (Dep't of Commerce June 16, 2008) (notice of final determination of sales at not less than fair value)), aff'd, 589 Fed.Appx. 995 (Fed.Cir.2015). Although not relevant to this case, the Department now applies the "Cohen's d test" and the "ratio test," rather than the Nails test to determine whether targeted dumping has occurred. See Steel Wire Garment Hangers From the PRC, 80 Fed.Reg. 41,480 (Dep't of Commerce July 15, 2015) (preliminaiy results of antidumping duty administrative review; 2013-2014), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at 13-14.
. The A-A methodology "compartes] the weighted average of the normal values to the weighted average of the export prices (and constructed export prices) for comparable merchandise." 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1 (d)(1)(A)(i).
. "Zeroing is a methodology used for calculating an exporter's weighted average dumping margin 'where negative dumping margins (i.e., margins of sales of merchandise sold at nondumped prices) are given a value of zero and only positive dumping margins (i.e., margins for sales of merchandise sold at dumped prices) are aggregated.' " BTIC I, 38 CIT at - n. 1, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1323 n. 1 (quoting Union Steel v. United States, 713 F.3d 1101, 1104 (Fed.Cir.2013)).
. The Department made one adjustment to the dates of the sales within the allegedly targeted period. See Final Determination, 77 Fed.Reg. at 26,740. That change is not challenged here.
. Plaintiff's "pattern" argument was "that the legislative history and purpose of 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B) show that the Department's application of the Nails test in this case was improper because the test can identify a pattern of targeted dumping based on non-dumped sales." BTIC I, 38 CIT at -, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1328-29.
. In this case, Norris alleged targeting on the basis of time period. See Preliminary Deter-imitation, 76 Fed.Reg. at 77,968.
. The first stage of the two-step test is directed to the pattern requirement of 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(i), while the second stage concerns the significant-difference requirement of that statutory provision. See 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(d)(1)(B)(i); see also JBF RAK, 790 F.3d at 1367 n. 5.
. "Control numbers, or CONNUMs are used by Commerce to designate merchandise that is deemed identical based on the Department's model matching criteria.... CONNUMs are used as the basis for product identification in most cases." Shandong Huarong Mach. Co. v. United States, 30 CIT 1269, 1284 n. 12, 435 F.Supp.2d 1261, 1275 n. 12 (2006) (quoting Koenig & Bauer-Albert AG v. United States, 24 CIT 157, 161 n. 6, 90 F.Supp.2d 1284, 1288 n. 6 (2000)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
. A "nonmarket economy country" is a "foreign country that the [Department] determines does not operate on market principles of cost or pricing structures, so that sales of merchandise in such country do not reflect the fair value of the merchandise." 19 U.S.C. § 1677(18)(A). "Because the Department deems the PRC 'to be a nonmarket economy country, Commerce generally considers information on sales in [the PRC] and financial information obtained from Chinese producers to be unreliable for determining, under 19 U.S.C. § 1677b(a), the normal value of the subject merchandise.' " Jacobi Carbons AB v. United States, 38 CIT -, - n. 11, 992 F.Supp.2d 1360, 1365 n. 11 (2014) (alteration in original) (quoting Shanghai Foreign Trade Enters. Co. v. United States, 28 CIT 480, 481, 318 F.Supp.2d 1339, 1341 (2004)), aff'd, Appeal No. 2014-1752, 619 Fed.Appx. 992, 2015 WL 4639328 (Fed.Cir. Aug. 3, 2015).
. Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1673b(b)(3):
In making a determination under this subsection, the [Department] shall disregard any weighted average dumping margin that is de minimis. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a weighted average dumping margin is de minimis if [Commerce] determines that it is less than 2 percent ad valorem or the equivalent specific rate for the subject merchandise.
19 U.S.C. § 1673b(b)(3).
. It is worth noting that Commerce comes close to providing an explanation in its reasons for the use of zeroing when employing the A-T methodology:
This is so because record evidence shows that for [Tianhai], the [A-A] methodology masks differences in the patterns of prices between the targeted and non-targeted groups by averaging low-priced sales to the targeted group with high-priced sales to the non-targeted group.... As such, we find that the petitioner is correct that the intent of [19 U.S.C. § 1677f—1(d)(1) ] is not effectuated if offsets are used under the alternative [A-T] methodology.
Issues & Dec. Mem. at cmt. IV.
. The WTO found that zeroing in antidumping investigations was a violation of trade agreements entered into by the United States. See Union Steel v. United States, 713 F.3d 1101, 1105 (Fed.Cir.2013) (citation omitted).
. As to whether Commerce was justified in applying the targeted dumping remedy to all of Tianhai's sales, rather than only to its "dumped" sales, this was also addressed, in part, in BTIC I. There, the court found that, even if Commerce erred in withdrawing a regulation that limited the application of the A-T method to targeted sales, "that error [was] harmless as it applies to plaintiff, and the Department is not bound by the withdrawn regulation here." BTIC I, 38 CIT at -, 7 F.Supp.3d at 1333.