Determining which comparison market (home market or third country) sales will be used in the calculation

Sections B, C, and E of the Commerce Department's questionnaire seek detailed information and data on sales, and in particular selling prices, of the targeted merchandise.

The Commerce Department requires the foreign company to prepare a computerized listing of all transactions (i.e. shipments/invoices) of the targeted merchandise during the period under investigation — the last four calendar quarters.

The sales databases must also contain, for each reported transaction, specific information on the physical characteristics of the product being sold. Usually, the Commerce Department's questionnaire will detail exactly which physical characteristics need to be reported and how.

Price adjustments: General methodological issues concerning price adjustments

The Commerce Department requires the calculation of adjustments to reflect all discounts that are not reflected in the net invoice price. The starting point for all sales is the net invoice price.

Delivery costs are usually not controversial, either in the way they are calculated or in the effect they have on the outcome. The statute and Commerce Department policy are quite clear.

Packing costs are treated somewhat differently from delivery costs.