[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10299-10300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05274]



[[Page 10299]]

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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: Continuation of 
Countervailing Duty Order

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: As a result of the determinations by the Department of 
Commerce (Commerce) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) 
that revocation of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on crystalline 
silicon photovoltaic (CSPV) cells, whether or not assembled into 
modules, from the People's Republic of China (China) would likely lead 
to continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies and material 
injury to an industry in the United States, Commerce is publishing a 
notice of continuation of this CVD order.

DATES: Applicable March 20, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caitlin Monks, 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) 482-2670. SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION:

Background

    On December 7, 2012, Commerce published in the Federal Register the 
notice of the CVD order on CSPV cells from China.\1\ On November 1, 
2017, Commerce published the notice of initiation of the sunset review 
of the Order pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act).\2\ On February 26, 2018, the ITC instituted its 
review of the Order.\3\
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    \1\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not 
Assembled into Modules, from the People's Republic of China: 
Countervailing Duty Order, 77 FR 73017 (December 7, 2012) (Order).
    \2\ See Initiation of Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews, 82 FR 50612 
(November 1, 2017).
    \3\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells and Modules from 
China; Notice of Commission Determinations to Conduct Full Five-Year 
Reviews, 83 FR 8296, 8297 (February 26, 2018).
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    As a result of this sunset review, Commerce determined that 
revocation of the Order would likely lead to continuation or recurrence 
of countervailable subsidies and notified the ITC of the net 
countervailable subsidy rates likely to prevail should the Order be 
revoked.\4\
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    \4\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not 
Assembled into Modules, from the People's Republic of China: Final 
Results of the Expedited First Sunset Review of the Countervailing 
Duty Order, 83 FR 10431 (March 9, 2018).
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    On March 7, 2019, the ITC published its determination, pursuant to 
sections 751(c) of the Act, that revocation of the Order would be 
likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury to an 
industry in the United States within a reasonably foreseeable time.\5\
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    \5\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells and Modules from 
China: Investigation Nos. 701-TA-481 and 731-TA-1190 (Review), 84 FR 
8342, 8343 (March 7, 2019).
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Scope of the Order

    The merchandise covered by the 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. The Order 
covers crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells of thickness equal to or 
greater than 20 micrometers, having a p/n junction formed by any means, 
whether or not the cell has undergone other processing, including, but 
not limited to, cleaning, etching, coating, and/or addition of 
materials (including, but not limited to, metallization and conductor 
patterns) to collect and forward the electricity that is generated by 
the cell. Merchandise under consideration may be described at the time 
of importation as parts for final finished products that are assembled 
after importation, including, but not limited to, modules, laminates, 
panels, building-integrated modules, building-integrated panels, or 
other finished goods kits. Such parts that otherwise meet the 
definition of merchandise under consideration are included in the scope 
of the Order.
    Excluded from the scope of this Order are thin film photovoltaic 
products produced from amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride 
(CdTe), or copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). Also excluded from 
the scope of this Order are crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, not 
exceeding 10,000mm2 in surface area, that are permanently integrated 
into a consumer good whose function is other than power generation and 
that consumes the electricity generated by the integrated crystalline 
silicon photovoltaic cell. Where more than one cell is permanently 
integrated into a consumer good, the surface area for purposes of this 
exclusion shall be the total combined surface area of all cells that 
are integrated into the consumer good.
    Additionally, excluded from the scope of this Order are panels with 
surface area from 3,450 mm2 to 33,782 mm2 with one black wire and one 
red wire (each of type 22 AWG or 24 AWG not more than 206 mm in length 
when measured from panel extrusion), and not exceeding 2.9 volts, 1.1 
amps, and 3.19 watts. For the purposes of this exclusion, no panel 
shall contain an internal battery or external computer peripheral 
ports.
    Modules, laminates, and panels produced in a third-country from 
cells produced in China are covered by this Order; however, modules, 
laminates, and panels produced in China from cells produced in a third-
country are not covered by this Order.
    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, 
8501.31.8000, 8541.40.6015, 8541.40.6035, 8541.40.6025, and 
8541.40.6045. These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes; the written description of the scope of this Order is 
dispositive.

Continuation of the Order

    As a result of the determinations by Commerce and the ITC that 
revocation of the Order would likely lead to continuation or recurrence 
of countervailable subsidies and material injury to an industry in the 
United States, pursuant to section 751(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce 
hereby orders the continuation of the Order.
    U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to collect CVD 
cash deposits at the rates in effect at the time of entry for all 
imports of subject merchandise. The effective date of continuation of 
this order will be the date of publication in the Federal Register of 
this notice of continuation. Pursuant to section 751(c)(2) of the Act, 
Commerce intends to initiate the next five-year review of the Order not 
later than 30 days prior to the fifth anniversary of the effective date 
of continuation.
    This five-year sunset review and this notice are in accordance with 
section 751(c) of the Act and published pursuant to section 777(i)(1) 
of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.218(f)(4).


[[Page 10300]]


    Dated: March 15, 2019.
Christian Marsh,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2019-05274 Filed 3-19-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P