Simpson Strong-Tie Co. v. United States , 335 F. Supp. 3d 1311 ( 2018 )

Slip Op. 18-
UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
SIMPSON STRONG-TIE COMPANY,
Plaintiff,
v.
Before: Gary S. Katzmann, Judge
UNITED STATES,
Court No. 17-00057
Defendant,
and
MID CONTINENT STEEL & WIRE, INC.,
Defendant-Intervenor.
OPINION
[Commerce’s Final Results are remanded and plaintiff’s motion for judgment on the agency
record is granted in part.]
Dated: 6HSWHPEHU
George R. Tuttle, III, and Vickie Wu, The Law Offices of George R. Tuttle, of Larkspur, CA,
argued for plaintiff.
Stephen C. Tosini, Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, U.S. Department
of Justice, of Washington, DC, argued for defendant. With him on the brief were Chad A. Readler,
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Jeanne E. Davidson, Director, Patricia M. McCarthy,
Assistant Director, and Sosun Bae, Trial Attorney. Of counsel on the brief was Jessica DiPietro,
Attorney, Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department
of Commerce, of Washington, DC.
Adam H. Gordon, The Bristol Group PLLC, of Washington, DC, argued for defendant-intervenor.
With him on the brief was Ping Gong.
Katzmann, Judge: The court today reviews another installment in the continuing mystery
series, “Is It Classified As A Nail?” See OMG, Inc., v. United States, 42 CIT __, Slip Op. 18-63
Court No. 17-00057 Page 2
(May 29, 2018). Plaintiff Simpson Strong-Tie Company (“Simpson”) challenges the Department
of Commerce’s (“Commerce”) determination that zinc and nylon anchors imported by Simpson
fall within the scope of the Antidumping Duty Orders on Certain Steel Nails from the People’s
Republic of China. Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Order on Certain Steel Nails from the
People’s Republic of China: Final Scope Ruling on Simpson Strong-Tie Company’s (Zinc and
Nylon Nailon) Anchors, 73 Fed. Reg. 44,961 (Dep’t Commerce Mar. 20, 2017), P.R. 36 (“Final
Scope Ruling”); Antidumping Duty Order: Certain Steel Nails from the People’s Republic of
China, 73 Fed. Reg. 44,961 (Dep’t Commerce Aug. 1, 2008) and Certain Steel Nails from the
People’s Republic of China, 76 Fed. Reg. 30,101 (Dep’t Commerce May 24, 2011) (Final Results
of Changed Circumstances Review) (collectively “the Orders”). Simpson argues that its anchors
are not steel nails and, therefore, do not fall within the scope of the Orders and that Commerce’s
scope determination is unsupported by substantial evidence on the record and is otherwise not in
accordance with law. Compl., Apr. 12, 2017, ECF No. 10; Pl.’s Mot. For J. on the Agency R. and
Br. in Supp., Aug. 22, 2017, ECF No. 24 (“Pl.’s Br.”); Pl.’s Reply, Jan. 30, 2018, ECF No. 30.
The court concludes that Commerce’s determination was not in accordance with law.
BACKGROUND
A. Legal and Regulatory Framework of Scope Reviews Generally.
Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States for less than
fair value – that is, for a lower price than in its home market. Sioux Honey Ass’n v. Hartford Fire
Ins. Co., 672 F.3d 1041, 1046 (Fed. Cir. 2012). Similarly, a foreign country may provide a
countervailable subsidy to a product and thus artificially lower its price. U.S. Steel Grp. v. United
States, 96 F.3d 1352, 1355 n.1 (Fed. Cir. 1996). To empower Commerce to offset economic
distortions caused by dumping and countervailable subsidies, Congress enacted the Tariff Act of
Court No. 17-00057 Page 3
1930. 1 Sioux Honey Ass’n, 672 F.3d at 1046–47. Under the Tariff Act’s framework, Commerce
may -- either upon petition by a domestic producer or of its own initiative -- begin an investigation
into potential dumping or subsidies and, if appropriate, issue orders imposing duties on the subject
merchandise. Id.
In order to provide producers and importers with notice as to whether their products fall
within the scope of an antidumping or countervailing duty order, Congress has authorized
Commerce to issue scope rulings clarifying “whether a particular type of merchandise is within
the class or kind of merchandise described in an existing . . . order.” 19 U.S.C. §
1516a(a)(2)(B)(vi). As “no specific statutory provision govern[s] the interpretation of the scope
of antidumping or countervailing orders,” Commerce and the courts developed a three-step
analysis. Shenyang Yuanda Aluminum Indus. Eng’g Co. v. United States, 776 F.3d 1351, 1354
(Fed. Cir. 2015); Polites v. United States, 35 CIT __, __, 755 F. Supp. 2d 1352, 1354 (2011); 19
C.F.R. § 351.225(k).
Because “[t]he language of the order determines the scope of an antidumping duty order[,]”
any scope ruling begins with an examination of the language of the order at issue. Tak Fat Trading
Co. v. United States, 396 F.3d 1378, 1382 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (citing Duferco Steel, Inc. v. United
States, 296 F.3d 1087, 1097 (Fed. Cir. 2002)). If the terms of the order are unambiguous, then
those terms govern. Id. at 1382–83.
However, if Commerce determines that the terms of the order are either ambiguous or
reasonably subject to interpretation, then Commerce “will take into account . . . the descriptions
of the merchandise contained in the petition, the initial investigation, and [prior] determinations
1
Further citations to the Tariff Act of 1930 are to the relevant portions of Title 19 of the U.S.
Code, 2012 edition.
Court No. 17-00057 Page 4
[of Commerce] (including prior scope determinations) and the [International Trade] Commission.”
19 C.F.R. § 351.225(k)(1) (“(k)(1) sources”); Polites, 755 F. Supp. 2d at 1355; Meridian Prod.,
851 F.3d 1375, 1382 (Fed. Cir. 2017). To be dispositive, the (k)(1) sources “must be ‘controlling’
of the scope inquiry in the sense that they definitively answer the scope question.” Polites, 755 F.
Supp. 2d at 1355 (quoting Sango Int’l v. United States, 484 F.3d 1371, 1379 (Fed. Cir. 2007)). If
Commerce “can determine, based solely upon the application and the descriptions of the
merchandise referred to in paragraph (k)(1) of . . . section [351.225], whether a product is included
within the scope of an order . . . [Commerce] will issue a final ruling[.]” 19 C.F.R. § 351.225(d).
If section 351.225(k)(1) analysis is not dispositive, Commerce will initiate a scope inquiry
under § 351.225(e), and apply the five criteria from Diversified Prods. Corp v. United States, 6
CIT 155, 162, 572 F. Supp. 883, 889 (1983) as codified in 19 C.F.R. § 351.225(k)(2). 2
B. The Petition and Nail Orders.
On May 29, 2007, Mid Continent Steel & Wire (“Mid Continent”) and other producers of
steel nails petitioned Commerce to impose antidumping duties on certain steel nails from the
United Arab Emirates and the People’s Republic of China. Letter from Grunfeld Desiderio
Lebowitz Silverman Klestadt, LLP to Sec’y of Commerce Pertaining to Fastenal Scope
Comments, P.R. 17 (Nov. 15, 2016) at Ex. 11, Petition for the Imposition of Antidumping Duties
against Certain Steel Nails from the People’s Republic of China and United Arab Emirates (May
29, 2007) (“Petition”). Commerce later determined that dumping was occurring, but first advised
Customs and Border Patrol (“CBP”) in Commerce Message 8213213 -- issued on July 31, 2008,
2
These criteria are: (1) the physical characteristics of the product, (2) the expectations of the
ultimate purchasers, (3) the ultimate use of the product, (4) the channels of trade in which the
product is sold, and (5) the manner in which the product is advertised and displayed. 19 C.F.R. §
351.225(k)(2); see Diversified Prods., 572 F. Supp. at 889.
Court No. 17-00057 Page 5
a day prior to the issuance of the Orders -- that articles classified under HTSUS 7907.00.6000
(“Other articles of zinc: other”) were excluded from the scope of the Orders and advised CBP to
liquidate entries on such products without the assessment of antidumping duties. Letter from Law
Offices of George R. Tuttle to Sec’y of Commerce, P.R. 3–4 (July 21, 2016) (“Scope Ruling
Request”) at Attach. 3. Thereafter, on August 1, 2008, Commerce issued its antidumping duty
Orders covering certain steel nails from China. The scope of the Orders reads in full:
The merchandise covered by this proceeding includes certain steel nails having a
shaft length up to 12 inches. Certain steel nails include, but are not limited to, nails
made of round wire and nails that are cut. Certain steel nails may be of one piece
construction or constructed of two or more pieces. Certain steel nails may be
produced from any type of steel, and have a variety of finishes, heads, shanks, point
types, shaft lengths and shaft diameters. Finishes include, but are not limited to,
coating in vinyl, zinc (galvanized, whether by electroplating or hot-dipping one or
more times), phosphate cement, and paint. Head styles include, but are not limited
to, flat, projection, cupped, oval, brad, headless, double, countersunk, and sinker.
Shank styles include, but are not limited to, smooth, barbed, screw threaded, ring
shank and fluted shank styles. Screw-threaded nails subject to this proceeding are
driven using direct force and not by turning the fastener using a tool that engages
with the head. Point styles include, but are not limited to, diamond, blunt, needle,
chisel and no point. Finished nails may be sold in bulk, or they may be collated
into strips or coils using materials such as plastic, paper, or wire. Certain steel nails
subject to this proceeding are currently classified under the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) subheadings 7317.00.55, 7313.00.65 and
7317.00.75.
Excluded from the scope of this proceeding are roofing nails of all lengths and
diameter, whether collated or in bulk, and whether or not galvanized. Steel roofing
nails are specifically enumerated and identified in ASTM Standard F 1667 (2005
revision) as Type 1, Style 20 nails. Also excluded from the scope are the following
steel nails: 1) Non-collated (i.e., hand driven or bulk), two-piece steel nails having
plastic or steel washers (caps) already assembled to the nail, having a bright or
galvanized finish, a ring, fluted or spiral shank, an actual length of 0.500” to 8”,
inclusive; and an actual shank diameter of 0.1015” to 0.166”, inclusive; and an
actual washer or cap diameter of 0.900” to 1.10”, inclusive; 2) Non-collated (i.e.,
hand-driven or bulk), steel nails having a bright or galvanized finish, a smooth,
barbed or ringed shank, an actual length of 0.500” to 4”, inclusive; an actual shank
diameter of 0.1015” to 0.166”, inclusive; and an actual head diameter of 0.3375” to
0.500”, inclusive; 3) Wire collated steel nails, in coils, having a galvanized finish,
a smooth, barbed or ringed shank, an actual length of 0.500” to 1.75”, inclusive; an
actual shank diameter of 0.116” to 0.166”, inclusive; and an actual head diameter
Court No. 17-00057 Page 6
of 0.3375” to 0.500”, inclusive; and 4) Non-collated (i.e., hand-driven or bulk),
steel nails having a convex head (commonly known as an umbrella head), a smooth
or spiral shank, a galvanized finish, an actual length of 1.75” to 3”, inclusive; an
actual shank diameter of 0.131” to 0.152”, inclusive; and an actual head diameter
of 0.450” to 0.813”, inclusive.
Also excluded from the scope of this order are corrugated nails. A corrugated nail
is made of a small strip of corrugated steel with sharp points on one side. Also
excluded from the scope of this order are fasteners suitable for use in powder-
actuated hand tools, not threaded and threaded, which are currently classified under
HTSUS 7317.00.20 and 7313.00.30.
Also excluded from the scope of this order are thumb tacks, which are currently
classified under HTSUS 7317.00.10.00.
Also excluded from the scope of this order are certain brads and finish nails that
are equal to or less than 0.0720 inches in shank diameter, round or rectangular in
cross section, between 0.375 inches and 2.5 inches in length, and that are collated
with adhesive or polyester film tape backed with a head seal adhesive.
Also excluded from the scope of this order are fasteners having a case hardness
greater than or equal to 50 HRC, a carbon content greater than or equal to 0.5
percent, a round head, a secondary reduced-diameter raised head section, a centered
shank, and a smooth symmetrical point, suitable for use in gas-actuated hand tools.
While the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs
purposes, the written description of the scope of this order is dispositive.
Orders (emphasis added).
On July 13, 2010, CBP reclassified zinc anchors previously classified under HTSUS 7317
as properly falling under HTSUS 7907.00.6000 (“Other articles of zinc: other”) because “the
anchor generally predominates by weight.” ACE Request 23031: Nail-In Anchors with Steel
Nails, A-570-909, P.R. 36 (Mar. 27, 2012) at Attach. 2.
C. Factual and Procedural History of this Case.
On July 21, 2016, Simpson, an importer of zinc and nylon anchors, filed a request with
Commerce for a scope ruling that its zinc and nylon anchors should be excluded from the scope of
Court No. 17-00057 Page 7
the Orders. Scope Ruling Request. In its Scope Ruling Request, Simpson described its zinc and
nylon anchors as follows:
The Zinc Nailon™ Anchors consist of two components: (1) a zinc alloy body; and
(2) a carbon and stainless steel (Type 304) drive pin. Simpson’s zinc anchors are
assembled at the time of importation, meaning that the steel pin has been inserted
into the body of the zinc alloy anchor. Simpson’s zinc Nailon™ anchors are
classified under subheading 7907.00.6000 (footnote omitted) of the Harmonized
Tariff Schedules of the United States (HTSUS).
The Nylon Nailon™ Anchors also consist of two components. Rather than a zinc
alloy body, however, they have a nylon shell or body, and likewise have a carbon
and stainless steel (type 304) pin. The Nylon Nailon™ pin drive anchors are
classified pursuant to GRI 3(b) and the “composite goods” rule under HTSUS
heading 3926 as: Other articles of plastics and articles of other materials of headings
3901 to 3914, specifically 3926.90.9980 “other.”
Id. at 4.
Following Simpson’s Scope Ruling Request, Mid Continent submitted comments arguing
that Simpson’s zinc and nylon anchors were within the scope of the Orders. Letter from the Bristol
Group PLLC to Sec’y Commerce, P.R. 18 (Nov. 15, 2016). Simpson filed timely rebuttal
comments. Letter from Law Offices of George R. Tuttle to Sec’y Commerce, P.R. 22 (Nov. 23,
2016) (“Simpson Rebuttal Comments”). Midwest Fastener, Corp. and Fastenal Company
Purchasing also submitted comments in support of Simpson’s Scope Ruling Request. Letter from
Clark Hill PLC to Sec’y Commerce, P.R. 21 (Nov. 23, 2016); Letter from Gunfeld Desiderio
Lebowitz Silverman Klestadt, LLP to Sec’y Commerce, P.R. 26 (Nov. 25, 2016).
On March 20, 2017, Commerce issued its Final Scope Ruling, in which it determined that,
although the language of the Orders did not expressly mention anchors, the unambiguous language
of the Orders reasonably included anchors and the (k)(1) sources supported its conclusion;
therefore, Simpson’s zinc and nylon anchors were within the scope of the Orders. Final Scope
Ruling at 12. Specifically, Commerce determined that the description of Simpson’s anchors, the
Court No. 17-00057 Page 8
ITC Report description of the domestic like product under the heading “The Product” -- which
described “a masonry anchor that comprises a zinc anchor and a steel wire nail” -- and its prior
scope determinations dispositively placed Simpson’s anchors within the scope of the Orders. Id.
at 11.
Simpson filed a complaint with this court contesting the Final Scope Ruling and on August
22, 2017, Simpson submitted its Motion for Judgment on the Agency Record and Brief in Support.
Compl.; Pl.’s Br. Defendant the United States (“The Government”) and defendant-intervenor Mid
Continent submitted their briefs in opposition on November 30, 2017. Def.-Inter.’s Br., ECF No.
28; Def’s. Br., ECF No. 29. Simpson replied on January 20, 2017. Pl.’s Reply., ECF No. 30. Oral
argument was held before this court on September 6, 2018. ECF No. 45.
JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
This court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c) and 19 U.S.C.
§ 1516a(a)(2)(B)(vi). The standard of review in this action is set forth in 19 U.S.C. §
1516a(b)(l)(B)(i): “[t]he 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.”
DISCUSSION
The Government argues that: (1) Commerce’s determination that Simpson’s zinc and nylon
anchors fit within the plain language of the Orders is in accordance with law; (2) there is substantial
evidence that the (k)(1) sources dispositively place Simpson’s products within the scope of the
Orders; (3) a formal scope inquiry was unnecessary and thus Commerce did not need to consider
the (k)(2) sources; and (4) Commerce may instruct CBP to retroactively suspend liquidation on
Simpson’s shipments entered prior to the date of Commerce’s ruling.
Court No. 17-00057 Page 9
“[T]he question of whether the unambiguous terms of a scope control the inquiry, or
whether some ambiguity exists, is a question of law that we review de novo.” Meridian, 851 F.3d
at 1382. The court concludes that the products at issue are not nails within the plain meaning of
the word “nail” and, therefore, are outside the scope of the Orders.
As the Federal Circuit has held, the terms of an order govern its scope. Duferco, 296 F.3d
at 1097; see Eckstrom Indus., Inc. v. United States, 254 F.3d 1068, 1072 (Fed. Cir. 2001);
Wheatland Tube Co. v. United States, 161 F.3d 1365, 1370 (Fed. Cir. 1998). “Although the scope
of a final order may be clarified, it can not be changed in a way contrary to its terms.” Duferco,
296 F.3d at 1097 (quoting Smith Corona Corp. v. United States, 915 F.2d 683, 686 (Fed. Cir.
1990)). For that reason, “if [the scope of an order] is not ambiguous, the plain meaning of the
language governs.” ArcelorMittal Stainless Belg. N.V. v. United States, 694 F.3d 82, 87 (Fed.
Cir. 2012).
“In determining the common meaning of a term, courts may and do consult dictionaries,
scientific authorities, and other reliable sources of information including testimony of record.”
NEC Corp. v. Dep’t of Commerce, 23 CIT 727, 731, 74 F. Supp. 2d 1302, 1307 (1999) (quoting
Holford USA Ltd. v. United States, 19 CIT 1486, 1493–94, 912 F. Supp. 555, 561 (1995)).
Furthermore, antidumping duty orders “should not be interpreted in a vacuum devoid of any
consideration of the way the language of the order is used in the relevant industry.” Fedmet Res.
Corp. v. United States, 755 F.3d 912, 921 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (quoting ArcelorMittal, 694 F.3d at 88).
Accordingly, “[b]ecause the primary purpose of an antidumping order is to place foreign exporters
on notice of what merchandise is subject to duties, the terms of an order should be consistent, to
the extent possible, with trade usage.” ArcelorMittal, 694 F.3d at 88.
Court No. 17-00057 Page 10
A nail, as defined by OXFORD’S ENGLISH DICTIONARY (3rd ed. 2003) is “a small metal
spike with a sharpened end and a blunt head, which may be driven in to a surface with a hammer
or other tool in order to fasten things together.” THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE (4th ed. 2000) defines a nail as “[a] slim, pointed piece of metal hammered
into material as a fastener.” Similarly, WEBSTER’S THIRD NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY OF
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE (UNABRIDGED) (“WEBSTER’S”) (1993) defines a nail as “a slender and
usually pointed and headed fastener designed for impact insertion.” These definitions present a
“single clearly defined or stated meaning”: a slim, usually pointed object used as a fastener
designed for impact insertion. Unambiguous, WEBSTER’S (1986), quoted in Meridian, 851 F.3d at
1381 n.7. Therefore, “nail” is an unambiguous term. See OMG,Slip Op. 18-63 at 9–10 (finding
the meaning of the term “nail” used in scope order covering certain steel nails from Vietnam was
unambiguous).
The merchandise at issue here does not fit into the above definitions. Simpson described
its zinc anchor as: “(1) a zinc alloy body; and a (2) carbon and stainless steel (Type 304) drive
pin.” Scope Ruling Request at 4. Similarly, Simpson described its nylon anchor as: “(1) a nylon
shell or body, and likewise have (2) a carbon and stainless steel (type 304) pin.” Id. Commerce
made its determination based upon the steel pin, arguing “an essential portion of the two-piece
anchor is, in fact, made of steel, namely the steel drive nail.” Final Scope Ruling at 13. However,
as Commerce acknowledged in its Final Scope Ruling, Simpson’s anchor nails are not reasonably
separable; Simpson’s anchors are unitary articles of commerce. Id. at 15; Def.’s Br. at 8, 14. As
such, the entire product, not just a component part, must be defined as a nail to fall within the
scope of the Orders. See OMG, Slip Op. 18-63 at 10.
Court No. 17-00057 Page 11
The entire product is not a nail “constructed of two or more pieces.” The definitions of a
nail cited above define a nail as a fastener inserted by impact into the materials to be fastened. The
merchandise at issue is not inserted by impact into the materials to be fastened in the same manner
as a nail. Rather, Simpson’s anchors “secure themselves to the wall using a mechanical wedging
effect created by the expansion of the anchor against the side of a predrilled hole as a result of
driving the pin in to the anchor.” Scope Ruling Request at 3. Simpson describes the process as
follows:
1. A hole is drilled in the base material using a carbide drill bit in the same
diameter as the nominal diameter of the anchor to be installed.
2. The hole is drilled to the specified embedment depth.
3. The fixture (or item to be attached to the wall) is positioned and the Nailon™
anchor is inserted through the fixture and into the hole.
4. The Nailon™ anchor is tapped with a hammer until flush with the fixture and
then the pin is driven until flush.
Scope Ruling Request at 4. Therefore, unlike two-piece nails, Simpson’s anchors are not inserted
by impact into the materials to be fastened and do not “grip by friction” in the same manner as a
nail. Id.
Trade usage also does not support Commerce’s determination. The examples of trade
usage in the record demonstrate that the nail industry categorizes anchors with steel pins as
anchors, not two-piece nails. Simpson Rebuttal Comments at Ex. 1 (“Metal hit anchors . . . consist
of a cylindrical zinc alloy body and zinc plated steel pin expander”); Ex. 3 (describing in the
Petition the merchandise intended to be covered by the scope order and excluding anchors from
the list of steel wire nails); Ex. 4 (example of a “Two Piece Impact Nail” which did not include an
anchor body); Ex. 5 (General Services Administration “commercial item description” of nail
Court No. 17-00057 Page 12
anchors as including an anchor body with a steel nail). 3 For example, when the word “nail” is
used, it is done so to either explicitly or implicitly modify the noun “anchor” as in “Flat Head Nail
Anchors,” “Mushroom Head Nail Anchors,” and “Hammer Nail Drive Concrete Anchors.” Id. at
Exs. 5, 12. These examples evidence that industry usage comports with the plain meaning of the
word “nail” because of its recognized functionality in the overall product – an anchor. According
to industry usage, the pin is a nail but the unitary article of commerce is an anchor.
The court’s prior decision in OMG supports this conclusion. 4 In that case, this court
addressed whether the OMG merchandise -- a zinc anchor body with a steel pin -- fell within the
meaning of the term “nail” as utilized in antidumping and countervailing duty orders covering
“certain steel nails . . . of two or more pieces” from Vietnam. OMG, Slip Op. 18-63 at 10–11;
Certain Steel Nails from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Countervailing Duty Order, 80 Fed.
Reg. 41,006 (Dep’t Commerce July 14, 2015) and Certain Steel Nails from the Republic of
Korea, Malaysia, the Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam:
Antidumping Duty Orders, 80 Fed. Reg. 39,994 (Dep’t Commerce July 13, 2015) (collectively the
“Vietnam Orders”). 5 The court determined that the OMG zinc anchor was unambiguously
3
The General Services Administration is a federal agency that provides centralized procurement
for the federal government and its commercial item description is authorized for use by all federal
agencies. Simpson Rebuttal Comments at Ex. 5; see GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION,
https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/background-and-history (last visited Sept. 12, 2018).
4
At oral argument, the Government contended that the details contained in the ITC Report for
the investigation at issue here distinguished this case from OMG. See Certain Steel Nails from
China, Investigation No. 731-TA-1114 (Final), USITC Publication 4022 (July 2008). This
argument is unpersuasive. The plain scope language unambiguously excludes the anchors, and
so a (k)(1) analysis -- in which the ITC Report would be relevant -- is unnecessary.
5
The Vietnam Orders do, however, differ from the Orders at issue here in some of the exclusions:
(1) Certain steel nails packaged in combination with one or more non-subject
articles, if the total number of nails . . . is less than 25; (2) Certain steel nails with
a nominal shaft length of one inch or less that are (a) a component of an
Court No. 17-00057 Page 13
excluded from the scope of the Vietnam Orders because: (1) the term “nail” was unambiguous and
distinct from the term “anchor”; (2) trade usage regarding delivered products guides interpretation
of the proper meaning of the terms of a scope order; (3) the OMG merchandise, as a unitary article
of commerce, was an anchor; and (4) the record demonstrated that the nail industry categorized
the OMG merchandise as an anchor, not a nail. Id.
Similarly, here, the Simpson merchandise consists of an anchor body attached to a steel
pin. Scope Ruling Request at 4. Although the Simpson merchandise also includes a nylon anchor,
the distinction from a zinc anchor is immaterial because neither product is reasonably separable.
Final Scope Ruling at 15. Indeed, it is for precisely that reason that Commerce determined that
Simpson’s anchors should be treated as unitary articles of commerce. Id. (“This is not a situation
where the subject merchandise may be readily segregated from other articles with which it is
packaged and separately valued for duty assessment purposes.”). In contrast to nails of any sort,
which are objects inserted directly into the material to be fastened without need for a predrilled
hole, Simpson’s anchors instead “secure themselves into the wall using a mechanical wedging
effect created by the expansion of the anchor against the side of a predrilled hole as a result of
unassembled article, (b) the total number of nails is sixty (60) or less, and (c) the
imported assembled article falls into one of the following eight groupings: 1)
builders’ joinery and carpentry of wood that are classifiable as windows, French-
windows, and their frames; 2) builders’ joinery and carpentry of wood that are
classifiable as doors and their frames and thresholds; 3) swivel seats with variable
height adjustment; 4) seats that are convertible into beds . . . 5) seats of cane, osier,
bamboo or similar materials ; 6) other seats with wooden frames . . . 7) furniture of
wood . . . or 8) furniture of materials other than wood, metal, or plastics. The
aforementioned imported unassembled articles are currently classified under the
following HTSUS subheadings: 4418.10, 4418.20, 9401.30, 9401.40, 9401.51,
9401.59, 9401.61, 9401.69, 9403.30, 9403.40, 9403.50, 9403.60, 9403.81 or
9403.89.
Vietnam Orders.
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driving the pin in to the anchor.” Scope Ruling Request at 3. In addition, as the record
demonstrates, both products are categorized as anchors, and not as two-piece nails, by the nail
industry. Simpson Rebuttal Comments at Exs. 1–5, 8, 12. Therefore, just like the OMG
merchandise, Simpson’s products are properly considered anchors and not two-piece nails. See
OMG, Slip Op. 18-63 at 11. 6
The Government asserts that “the (k)(1) sources are determinative as to whether the zinc
and nylon anchors fall within the scope of the order” and, therefore, Commerce did not need to
consider industry usage. Def.’s Br. at 16. However, neither Commerce in its Final Scope Ruling
nor the Government in its brief furnished support for this proposition. Instead, the Government
asserts that because Simpson’s product “is a steel nail attached to a zinc or nylon body” and that
“a product need not be explicitly listed in the scope to be included in the order,” Commerce’s
determination was supported by substantial evidence. Id. at 17 (emphasis in original). This is a
circular argument. Asserting something does not make it so, but that is precisely what Commerce
did here. See Duferco, 296 F.3d at 1096 (“Commerce cannot find authority in an order based on
the theory that the order does not deny authority.”); Bell Supply Co., LLC v. United States, 42 CIT
__, __, 179 F. Supp. 3d 1082, 1097 (2016) (“Supporting the inclusion of merchandise based on
6
Meridian Products v. United States, 890 F.3d 1272 (2018), does not affect this conclusion. In
that case, the Federal Circuit determined that the court had not afforded sufficient deference to
Commerce’s interpretation of the scope language because “Commerce’s original scope ruling
[wa]s reasonable and supported by substantial evidence” in that case. Id. at 1281 (citing Nippon
Steel Corp. v. United States, 458 F.3d 1345, 1359 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (holding that deference is due
“[s]o long as there is adequate basis in support of the [agency’s] choice of evidentiary weight”)).
In this case, however, Commerce’s determination that anchors fit within the definition of nails,
viewed within the context of the relevant industry, is not reasonable or adequately supported for
the reasons already discussed. Thus, Commerce’s interpretation of the scope language here is not
entitled to deference.
Court No. 17-00057 Page 15
the lack of any exclusionary language is tantamount to shifting the burden to exclude certain
merchandise on the party arguing for its exclusion, which . . . is incompatible with Duferco.”).
Accordingly, Simpson’s anchors, taken as a unitary article of commerce, are not nails
within the word’s plain meaning and thus do not fall within the unambiguous scope of the Orders.
CONCLUSION
The court remands to Commerce for further consideration consistent with this opinion.
Commerce shall issue appropriate instruction to U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding
the retroactive suspension of liquidation. Commerce shall file with this court and provide to the
parties a revised scope determination within 90 days of the date of this order; thereafter, the parties
shall have 30 days to submit briefs addressing the revised final determination to the court and the
parties shall have 15 days thereafter to file reply briefs with the court.
SO ORDERED.
/s/ Gary S. Katzmann
Gary S. Katzmann, Judge
Dated: 6HSWHPEHU
New York, New York