[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 57617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26261]



[[Page 57617]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic (CSPV) Cells (Whether or Not 
Partially or Fully Assembled Into Other Products)

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.

ACTION: Publication of summary of the Department of Labor's report on 
the investigation.

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SUMMARY: Section 224(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 (``Trade Act'') 
requires the United States Department of Labor (``Department'') to 
publish in the Federal Register a summary of each report that it 
submits to the President under section 224(a) of the Trade Act. Set 
forth below is a summary of the report that the Department submitted to 
the President on November 28, 2017, on investigation No. TA-201-75, 
Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic (CSPV) Cells (Whether or Not Partially 
or Fully Assembled Into Other Products). The Department conducted the 
investigation under section 224(a) following notification by the 
International Trade Commission (``Commission''), as required by section 
202(a)(3) of the Trade Act, that a petition was filed alleging that 
CSPV cells (Whether or Not Partially or Fully Assembled Into Other 
Products) are being imported into the United States in such increased 
quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury, or threat 
thereof, to the domestic industry producing an article like or directly 
competitive with the imported article. Pursuant to section 224(a), the 
Department will investigate: (1) The number of workers in the domestic 
industry producing the like or directly competitive article(s) who have 
been or are likely to be certified as eligible for adjustment 
assistance, and (2) the extent to which the adjustment of such workers 
to the import competition may be facilitated through the use of 
existing programs. The full text of the report will be posted on the 
Department's Web site at https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact.

DATES: November 28, 2017: Transmittal of the Department's report to the 
President.

ADDRESSES: United States Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20210. The public report may be viewed on the 
Department's Web site at https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norris Tyler, Administrator, Office of 
Trade Adjustment Assistance, Employment and Training Administration, 
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20210; Telephone: (202) 693-3560 (this is not a toll-free number). The 
media should contact Egan Reich, Office of Public Affairs, on (202) 
693-4960, or [email protected]. Congressional inquiries may be 
directed to Byron Anderson, Office of Congressional and 
Intergovernmental Affairs, on (202) 693-4600, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Procedural Summary: On September 22, 2017, 
the Commission issued an affirmative determination under Section 
202(b)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 in its safeguard investigation No. 
TA-201-75, Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic (CSPV) Cells (Whether or 
Not Partially or Fully Assembled Into Other Products). The Commission 
submitted a report to the President on November 13, 2017, which can be 
found on https://www.usitc.gov. A summary was also published in the 
Federal Register (82 FR 55393 (November 21, 2017)).
    Section 202(c)(1) of the Trade Act directs the Department to report 
to the President certain information whenever the Commission makes a 
finding under Section 202 of the Trade Act. The Department's report to 
the President studies the following:
    (1) The number of workers in the domestic industry (CSPV products) 
producing the like or directly competitive article who have been or are 
likely to be certified as eligible for adjustment assistance; and
    (2) The extent to which the adjustment of workers to the import 
competition may be facilitated through the use of existing programs.
    While these estimates accurately reflect the scope of this report 
as required under statute, the Department's investigation is a much 
narrower focus on the production of solely CSPV cells and CSPV modules. 
The petitioners maintain that imposing tariffs or other remedies on 
solar components will boost U.S. manufacturing jobs. However, it should 
be noted that currently only a relatively small number of solar jobs 
(about 38,000) are in manufacturing. The 2016 census of solar workers, 
conducted by the Solar Energy Industries Association, found that about 
260,000 workers were employed by the solar industry in 2016. Some 
reports indicate that a substantial number of additional jobs, 
including those in the residential, nonresidential/commercial, and 
utility sectors may be lost.
    The Department's study on CSPV cells as required under Section 224 
found the following:
    1. The Department has received Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) 
petitions for 20 worker groups involved in the production of CSPV since 
January 2012. Seventeen of those worker groups were certified as 
eligible to apply for TAA, resulting in an estimated 2,124 workers 
eligible to apply for individual benefits under the TAA Program.
    2. The Department estimates that 562 additional workers are likely 
to be covered by certified TAA petitions before the end of the year 
2019, which includes 230 CSPV cell producers and 332 module producers.
    3. Sufficient funding is available to provide TAA benefits and 
services to these workers. In FY 2017, the Department provided $391 
million to states to provide training and other activities for TAA 
participants, as well as $294 million in funding for Trade Readjustment 
Allowances, and $31 million in Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance 
funds.
    4. The Department believes that training and benefits under the 
Trade Act, other Department programs, and programs at other federal 
agencies are sufficient to assist workers in the CSPV industry to 
adjust to the trade impact.
    As required by Section 224(f)(1) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 
2274(f)(1)), the Department will provide notice of an affirmative 
determination by the Commission to State Workforce Agencies, as the 
Governor's representative, representatives of the domestic industry, 
other firms identified by name during the proceedings, and any 
recognized worker representatives.
    Finally, once the Commission's findings and the Department's report 
are provided to the President, the President may impose relief in the 
form of increased duties and/or other restrictions on imports of CSPV 
under Section 203 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253).

Nancy M. Rooney,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
[FR Doc. 2017-26261 Filed 12-5-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P