[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54566-54568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23667]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-980]


Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled 
Into Modules, From the People's Republic of China: Amended Final 
Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2015

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is amending the final 
results of the countervailing duty administrative review of crystalline 
silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or

[[Page 54567]]

not assembled into modules (solar cells), from the People's Republic of 
China (China) to correct a ministerial error.

DATES: Applicable October 30, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene H. Calvert, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-3586.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In accordance with section 751(a)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(5), on July 23, 2018, Commerce 
published its final results in the administrative review of the 
countervailing duty order on solar cells from China for the period of 
review (POR) January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015.\1\ On August 
2, 2018, Canadian Solar Inc. (Canadian Solar), a respondent in this 
administrative review, submitted timely ministerial error allegations 
concerning the Final Results.\2\ On August 7, 2018, SolarWorld 
Americas, Inc. timely filed rebuttal comments to Canadian Solar's 
allegations.\3\ No other parties submitted ministerial allegations or 
comments on Canadian Solar's allegations. Complaints were filed with 
the U.S. Court of International Trade (the Court, or CIT) challenging 
the Final Results. The United States sought leave from the Court to 
address these ministerial error allegations. The Court granted the 
United States' request and allowed until November 5, 2018, to issue any 
amended final results.
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    \1\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not 
Assembled Into Modules, From the People's Republic of China: Final 
Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2015, 83 FR 
34828 (July 23, 2018) (Final Results) and accompanying Issues and 
Decision Memorandum (Decision Memorandum).
    \2\ See Letter from Canadian Solar, ``Crystalline Silicon 
Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled into Modules from the 
People's Republic of China: Ministerial Error Comments,'' dated 
August 2, 2018; see also Memorandum, ``Administrative Review of the 
Countervailing Duty Order on Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, 
Whether or Not Assembled Into Modules, from the People's Republic of 
China: Extension of Deadline for Ministerial Error Comments,'' dated 
July 30, 2018.
    \3\ See Letter from the petitioner, ``Crystalline Silicon 
Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled into Modules, from the 
People's Republic of China: Rebuttal to Canadian Solar's Ministerial 
Error Comments,'' dated August 7, 2018.
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Scope of the Order

    The merchandise covered by this order is crystalline silicon 
photovoltaic cells, and modules, laminates, and panels, consisting of 
crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not partially or 
fully assembled into other products, including, but not limited to, 
modules, laminates, panels and building integrated materials. 
Merchandise covered by this order is currently classified in the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under 
subheadings 8501.61.0000, 8507.20.80, 8541.40.6020, 8541.40.6030, and 
8501.31.8000. These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes; the written description of the scope of this order is 
dispositive. A full description of the scope of the order is contained 
in the Final Results Decision Memorandum.\4\
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    \4\ See Final Results Decision Memorandum at 3-4.
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Ministerial Errors

    Section 751(h) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.224(f) define a 
``ministerial error'' as an error in addition, subtraction, or other 
arithmetic function, clerical error resulting from inaccurate copying, 
duplication, or the like, and any other similar type of unintentional 
error which the Secretary considers ministerial. Commerce finds that an 
error alleged by Canadian Solar regarding the calculation of the 
benchmark used to calculate benefits in the Aluminum Extrusions for 
Less Than Adequate Remuneration (LTAR) Program constitutes a 
ministerial error within the meaning of 19 CFR 351.224(f).\5\
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    \5\ See Memorandum, ``Administrative Review of the 
Countervailing Duty Order on Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, 
Whether or Not Assembled Into Modules, from the People's Republic of 
China, 2015; Response to Ministerial Error Allegations in the Final 
Results,'' dated concurrently with this notice (Response to 
Ministerial Error Allegations).
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    In accordance with section 751(h) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.224(e), 
we are amending the Final Results to correct the ministerial error. 
Specifically, we are amending the net subsidy rates for the mandatory 
company respondents (i.e., Canadian Solar and Changzhou Trina Solar 
Energy Co., Ltd.) and for the companies for which a review was 
requested that were not selected as mandatory company respondents 
(i.e., the non-selected companies subject to this review).\6\ The 
revised net subsidy rates are provided below.
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    \6\ Consistent with the Final Results, for the non-selected 
companies, we calculated an amended rate by weight-averaging the 
amended subsidy rates of the two mandatory respondents using their 
publicly-ranged sales data for exports of subject merchandise to the 
United States during the POR.
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Amended Final Results

    As a result of correcting the ministerial error, we determine the 
countervailable subsidy rates for the producers/exporters under review 
to be as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Subsidy rate
                    Producer/exporter                       (percent ad
                                                             valorem)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canadian Solar and its Cross-Owned Affiliates \7\.......           11.59
Trina Solar and its Cross-Owned Affiliates \8\..........            9.12
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Review-Specific Average Rate Applicable to the Non-Selected 
Companies Subject to this Review:
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    \7\ Cross-owned affiliates are: Canadian Solar Inc.; Canadian 
Solar Manufacturing (Luoyang) Inc.; Canadian Solar Manufacturing 
(Changshu) Inc.; CSI Cells Co., Ltd.; CSI Solar Power (China) Inc.; 
CSI Solartronics (Changshu) Co., Ltd.; CSI Solar Technologies Inc.; 
CSI Solar Manufacture Inc. (name was changed to CSI New Energy 
Holding Co., Ltd. in July 2015); CSI-GCL Solar Manufacturing 
(Yancheng) Co., Ltd.; Changshu Tegu New Materials Technology Co., 
Ltd.; Changshu Tlian Co., Ltd.; and Suzhou Sanysolar Materials 
Technology Co., Ltd. See Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
    \8\ Cross-owned affiliates are: Changzhou Trina Solar Energy 
Co., Ltd.; Trina Solar (Changzhou) Science and Technology Co., Ltd.; 
Yancheng Trina Solar Energy Technology Co., Ltd.; Changzhou Trina 
Solar Yabang Energy Co., Ltd.; Hubei Trina Solar Energy Co., Ltd.; 
Turpan Trina Solar Energy Co., Ltd.; and Changzhou Trina PV Ribbon 
Materials Co., Ltd.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Subsidy rate
                    Producer/exporter                       (percent ad
                                                             valorem)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baoding Jiasheng Photovoltaic Technology Co., Ltd.......           10.64
Baoding Tianwei Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd....           10.64
Beijing Tianneng Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd...           10.64
Canadian Solar International, Ltd.......................           10.64
Chint Solar (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd.........................           10.64
Dongguan Sunworth Solar Energy Co., Ltd.................           10.64
ERA Solar Co., Ltd......................................           10.64
ET Solar Energy Limited.................................           10.64
ET Solar Industry Limited...............................           10.64
Hainan Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd.............           10.64
Hangzhou Sunny Energy Science and Technology Co., Ltd...           10.64
Hangzhou Zhejiang University Sunny Energy Science and              10.64
 Technology Co., Ltd....................................
Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd.................           10.64
Hengshui Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd...........           10.64
JA Solar Technology Yangzhou Co., Ltd...................           10.64

[[Page 54568]]

 
Jiangsu High Hope Int'l Group...........................           10.64
Jiawei Solarchina Co., Ltd..............................           10.64
Jiawei Solarchina (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd...................           10.64
JingAo Solar Co., Ltd...................................           10.64
Jinko Solar Co., Ltd....................................           10.64
Jinko Solar Import and Export Co., Ltd..................           10.64
Jinko Solar International Limited.......................           10.64
Jinko Solar (U.S.) Inc..................................           10.64
Lightway Green New Energy Co., Ltd......................           10.64
Lixian Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd.............           10.64
Luoyang Suntech Power Co., Ltd..........................           10.64
Ningbo Qixin Solar Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd........           10.64
Risen Energy Co., Ltd...................................           10.64
Shanghai JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd...................           10.64
Shenzhen Glory Industries Co., Ltd......................           10.64
Shenzhen Topray Solar Co., Ltd..........................           10.64
Sumec Hardware & Tools Co. Ltd..........................           10.64
Systemes Versilis, Inc..................................           10.64
Taizhou BD Trade Co., Ltd...............................           10.64
tenKsolar (Shanghai) Co., Ltd...........................           10.64
Tianjin Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd............           10.64
Toenergy Technology Hangzhou Co., Ltd...................           10.64
Wuxi Suntech Power Co., Ltd.............................           10.64
Yingli Energy (China) Co., Ltd..........................           10.64
Zhejiang Era Solar Technology Co., Ltd..................           10.64
Zhejiang Jinko Solar Co., Ltd...........................           10.64
Zhejiang Sunflower Light Energy Science & Technology               10.64
 Limited Liability Company..............................
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Assessment Rates/Cash Deposits

    Normally, Commerce would issue appropriate assessment instructions 
to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 15 days after the date of 
publication of these amended final results of review, to liquidate 
shipments of subject merchandise produced and/or exported by the 
companies listed above entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015. 
However, on August 31, 2018, and on September 20 and 24, 2018, the CIT 
enjoined liquidation of certain entries that are subject to the Final 
Results.\9\ Accordingly, Commerce will not instruct CBP to assess 
countervailing duties on those enjoined entries pending resolution of 
the associated litigation.
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    \9\ The CIT issued the statutory injunctions in case numbers 18-
00184, 18-00185, and 18-00186.
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    Commerce intends to instruct CBP to collect cash deposits of 
estimated countervailing duties, in the amounts shown above for the 
companies listed above, on shipments of subject merchandise entered, or 
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after July 23, 2018, 
which is the date of publication of the Final Results. For all non-
reviewed firms, we will instruct CBP to collect cash deposits at the 
most recent company-specific or all-others rate applicable to the 
company, as appropriate. These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, 
shall remain in effect until further notice.

Administrative Protective Order

    This notice also serves as a reminder to parties that are subject 
to administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility 
concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information 
disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3), which 
continues to govern business proprietary information in this segment of 
the proceeding. Timely written notification of the return/destruction 
of APO materials, or conversion to judicial protective order, is hereby 
requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the terms of an 
APO is a sanctionable violation.

Disclosure

    We intend to disclose the calculations performed for these amended 
final results to interested parties within five business days of the 
date of publication of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.224(b).
    We are issuing and publishing these results in accordance with 
section 751(h) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.224(e).

    Dated: October 25, 2018.
Gary Taverman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Operations performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2018-23667 Filed 10-29-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P