China Solar Cells: Commerce to Consider New Exemption From AD/CV Duties
The Commerce Department will consider whether to create a new exemption from antidumping and countervailing duties on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from China (A-570-979/C-570-980), it said in a notice beginning a changed circumstances review. The review was requested by Goal Zero, an importer of the products. SolarWorld, which originally requested AD/CV duties on solar products, said it does not oppose creating the exemption.
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In its request for a changed circumstances review, Goal Zero defined products that would be partially revoked from the orders as follows:
"1) off-grid CSPV panels in rigid form with a glass cover, with the following characteristics:
- (A) a total power output of 100 watts or less per panel;
- (B) a maximum surface area of 8,000 cm2 per panel;
- (C) do not include a built-in inverter;
- (D) must include a permanently connected wire that terminates in either an 8mm male barrel connector, or a two-port rectangular connector with two pins in square housing of different colors;
- (E) must include visible parallel grid collector metallic wire lines every 1-4 millimeters across each solar cell; and
- (F) must be in individual retail packaging (for purposes of this provision, retail packaging typically includes graphics, the product name, its description and/or features, and foam for transport); and
2) off-grid CSPV panels without a glass cover, with the following characteristics:
- (A) a total power output of 100 watts or less per panel;
- (B) a maximum surface area of 8,000 cm2 per panel;
- (C) do not include a built-in inverter;
- (D) must include visible parallel grid collector metallic wire lines every 1-4 millimeters across each solar cell; and
- (E) each panel is (1) permanently integrated into a consumer good; (2) encased in a laminated material without stitching, or (3) has all of the following characteristics: (i) the panel is encased in sewn fabric with visible stitching, (ii) includes a mesh zippered storage pocket, and (iii) includes a permanently attached wire that terminates in a female USB-A connector."
Commerce will consider whether “all or substantially all” U.S. manufacturers support the partial revocation, and will accept comments on the issue until July 30. The agency will then issue preliminary results, providing the opportunity for further comments. Commerce’s final results are due in April 2019, unless all parties agree to the outcome of the review, in which case the final results will be issued around the end of August.
(Federal Register 07/20/18)