China Solar Cells: Commerce Exempts Some Off-Grid Panels From AD/CV Duties
The Commerce Department is creating a new exemption from antidumping and countervailing duties on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules, from China (A-570-979/C-570-980), it said in the final results of a changed circumstances review. The partial revocation applies to all unliquidated entries of off-grid panels entered on or after Jan. 1, 2016, for CV duty purposes, and on or after Dec. 1, 2016, for AD duty purposes, that meet the following requirements:
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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."
Goal Zero had requested the exemption. Commerce found that producers representing all U.S. production of solar cells did not have any interest in keeping the orders in place with respect to the off-grid solar products.
(Federal Register 12/20/18)