[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 210 (Thursday, October 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68561-68563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23959]


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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: Notice of Court 
Decision Not in Harmony With Final Results of Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Review and Notice of Amended Final Results of Review

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

SUMMARY: On October 19, 2020, the United States Court of International 
Trade (the Court) entered final judgment sustaining the final results 
of remand redetermination pursuant to court order by the Department of 
Commerce (Commerce) pertaining to the 2015 countervailing duty (CVD) 
administrative review of the order on crystalline silicon photovoltaic 
cells, whether or not assembled into modules (solar cells), from the 
People's Republic of China (China). Commerce is notifying the public 
that the final judgment in this case is not in harmony with Commerce's 
final results in the 2015 administrative review of solar cells from 
China, and that Commerce is amending the final results.

DATES: Applicable: October 29, 2020.

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 July 23, 2018, Commerce published its final results of the 2015 
administrative review of solar cells.\1\ Commerce reached affirmative 
determinations for mandatory respondents Canadian Solar Inc. and its 
cross-owned affiliates (collectively, Canadian Solar) and Changzhou 
Trina Solar Energy Co., Ltd. and its cross-owned affiliates 
(collectively, Trina Solar), as well as numerous other producers and 
exporters not selected for individual review. Commerce requested a 
voluntary remand regarding four issues before the Court: (1) Its 
finding, based on adverse facts available, that the respondents used 
the Export Buyer's Credit Program; (2) its determination that China's 
provision of aluminum extrusions is a specific subsidy; (3) the 
decision to average two datasets from IHS technology and U.N. Comtrade 
in calculating the benchmark for aluminum extrusions; and (4) the 
determination that China's provision of electricity is a specific 
subsidy.
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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, as amended by 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, 83 FR 54566 (October 30, 2018) (Amended 
Final Results).
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    On February 25, 2020, the Court granted Commerce's requests for 
voluntary remands, and remanded additional aspects of Commerce's Final 
Results.\2\ Specifically, the Court concluded that Commerce did not 
adequately explain how the polysilicon market in China is distorted 
through GOC intervention and how that distortion affects prices for 
imported products.\3\ Additionally, the Court found that Commerce had 
misinterpreted evidence regarding the

[[Page 68562]]

inclusion of terminal handling charges in the Xeneta ocean freight 
data,\4\ and that Commerce had erred in not fixing an allegedly 
mistranslated heading on the GOC's electricity tariff schedules.\5\
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    \2\ See Canadian Solar Inc., et al. v. United States, Slip Op. 
20-23 (CIT February 25, 2020) (Remand Order).
    \3\ Id. at 6 (citing Changzhou 3rd Review 2nd Remand Order, Slip 
Op. 19-137 at 20).
    \4\ Id. at 9.
    \5\ Id. at 11.
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    Commerce issued its final remand redetermination in June 2020.\6\ 
In its final remand redetermination, Commerce explained that, although 
it continues to believe that it is not possible to verify whether 
respondents used the Export Buyer's Credit Program without the 
cooperation of the Government of China (GOC), it found the program not 
used, under protest, to comply with the Court's order in the third 
administrative review.\7\ For aluminum extrusions, Commerce offered 
additional explanation regarding the specificity of aluminum extrusions 
provided at less than adequate remuneration (LTAR) and revised its 
benefit calculations to use the more product-specific annual data from 
IHS exclusively rather than averaging them with less specific monthly 
Comtrade data.\8\ For electricity, Commerce also fixed a translation 
error in the electricity tariff schedules on the record \9\ and offered 
additional explanation regarding its conclusion that the provision of 
electricity for LTAR is specific, and thus, countervailable.\10\ 
Commerce also solicited new information regarding the polysilicon 
industry in China and placed additional information on the record that 
supported its finding that the polysilicon market in China is distorted 
by government involvement, such that we cannot rely on prices for 
polysilicon imported into China.\11\ Regarding international freight 
costs, Commerce revised its benchmark calculations to include the 
Xeneta data on the record, in compliance with the Court's order.\12\
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    \6\ See Canadian Solar Inc., et al. v. United States, Consol. 
Court No. 18-00184; Slip Op. 20-23 (CIT February 25, 2020), ``Final 
Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Court Remand,'' dated June 
26, 2020 (Final Remand Redetermination).
    \7\ Id. at 11-12.
    \8\ Id. at 12-13.
    \9\ Id. at 30.
    \10\ Id. at 2.
    \11\ Id. at 20-30.
    \12\ Id. at 30.
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    The Court sustained Commerce's remand redetermination in full.\13\ 
Specifically, the Court found that Commerce's determinations regarding 
the Export Buyer's Credit Program, as well as the aluminum extrusions 
and polysilicon benchmarks, complied with the options the Court 
provided in previous remand orders.\14\ For polysilicon, the Court 
explained that Commerce reasonably identified further evidence 
supporting its finding of market distortion.\15\ The Court also 
concluded that Commerce's decision to average the Xeneta data with the 
Maersk data in computing an ocean freight benchmark, and its decision 
to correct the translation error on the electricity schedules complied 
with the Court's order.\16\ Finally, the Court found that Commerce 
appropriately identified the missing information and facts that, when 
combined with an adverse inference, supported finding that the 
provision of electricity is regionally specific.\17\
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    \13\ See Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co., Ltd. v. United 
States, Slip Op. 20-108 (October 19, 2020).
    \14\ Id. at 5-6 (Export Buyer's Credit Program) and 6-10 
(aluminum extrusions) (citing, e.g., Changzhou Trina Solar Energy 
Co., Ltd. v. United States, Slip Op. 20-108 (CIT 2020)).
    \15\ Id. at 13-15.
    \16\ Id. at 15-16.
    \17\ Id. at 12-13.
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Timken Notice

    In its decision in Timken,\18\ as clarified by Diamond 
Sawblades,\19\ the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that, 
pursuant to section 516A(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the 
Act), Commerce must publish a notice of court decision that is not ``in 
harmony'' with a Commerce determination and must suspend liquidation of 
entries pending a ``conclusive'' court decision. The Court's October 
19, 2020 judgment constitutes a final decision of that court that is 
not in harmony with Commerce's Final Results and Amended Final Results. 
This notice is published in fulfillment of the publication requirements 
of Timken. Accordingly, Commerce will continue suspension of 
liquidation of subject merchandise pending expiration of the period of 
appeal or, if appealed, pending a final and conclusive court decision.
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    \18\ See Timken Co. v. United States, 893 F.2d 337 (Fed. Cir. 
1990) (Timken).
    \19\ See Diamond Sawblades Mfrs. Coalition v. United States, 626 
F.3d 1374 (Fed. Cir. 2010).
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Amended Final Results

    Because there is now a final court decision, Commerce is amending 
the Amended Final Results with respect to Canadian Solar, Trina Solar, 
and all other producers and exporters subject to this review. The 
revised total subsidy rates for the period January 1, 2015 through 
December 31, 2015 are as follows: \20\
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    \20\ See Second Remand Redetermination at 48.
    \21\ See Amended Final Results, 83 FR at 54567. 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.
    \22\ Id. 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.

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                                                        Subsidy rate
               Exporter or producer                 (percent ad valorem)
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Canadian Solar Inc. and its Cross-Owned Affiliates                  5.02
 \21\.............................................
Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co., Ltd. and its                      2.93
 Cross-Owned Affiliates \22\......................
Baoding Jiasheng Photovoltaic Technology Co., Ltd.                  4.22
Baoding Tianwei Yingli New Energy Resources Co.,                    4.22
 Ltd..............................................
Beijing Tianneng Yingli New Energy Resources Co.,                   4.22
 Ltd..............................................
Canadian Solar International, Ltd.................                  4.22
Chint Solar (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd...................                  4.22
Dongguan Sunworth Solar Energy Co., Ltd...........                  4.22
ERA Solar Co., Ltd................................                  4.22
ET Solar Energy Limited...........................                  4.22
ET Solar Industry Limited.........................                  4.22
Hainan Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd.......                  4.22
Hangzhou Sunny Energy Science and Technology Co.,                   4.22
 Ltd..............................................
Hangzhou Zhejiang University Sunny Energy Science                   4.22
 and Technology Co., Ltd..........................
Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd...........                  4.22
Hengshui Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd.....                  4.22

[[Page 68563]]

 
JA Solar Technology Yangzhou Co., Ltd.............                  4.22
Jiangsu High Hope Int'l Group.....................                  4.22
Jiawei Solarchina Co., Ltd........................                  4.22
Jiawei Solarchina (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.............                  4.22
JingAo Solar Co., Ltd.............................                  4.22
Jinko Solar Co., Ltd..............................                  4.22
Jinko Solar Import and Export Co., Ltd............                  4.22
Jinko Solar International Limited.................                  4.22
Jinko Solar (U.S.) Inc............................                  4.22
Lightway Green New Energy Co., Ltd................                  4.22
Lixian Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd.......                  4.22
Luoyang Suntech Power Co., Ltd....................                  4.22
Ningbo Qixin Solar Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd..                  4.22
Risen Energy Co., Ltd.............................                  4.22
Shanghai JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd.............                  4.22
Shenzhen Glory Industries Co., Ltd................                  4.22
Shenzhen Topray Solar Co., Ltd....................                  4.22
Sumec Hardware & Tools Co. Ltd....................                  4.22
Systemes Versilis, Inc............................                  4.22
Taizhou BD Trade Co., Ltd.........................                  4.22
tenKsolar (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.....................                  4.22
Tianjin Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd......                  4.22
Toenergy Technology Hangzhou Co., Ltd.............                  4.22
Wuxi Suntech Power Co., Ltd.......................                  4.22
Yingli Energy (China) Co., Ltd....................                  4.22
Zhejiang Era Solar Technology Co., Ltd............                  4.22
Zhejiang Jinko Solar Co., Ltd.....................                  4.22
Zhejiang Sunflower Light Energy Science &                           4.22
 Technology Limited Liability Company.............
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Amended Cash Deposit Rates

    Commerce will issue revised cash deposit instructions to U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, based on the rates indicated above, for 
all firms that do not have a superseding cash deposit rate (e.g., from 
a subsequent administrative review).

Notification to Interested Parties

    This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 
516A(e)(1), 751(a)(1), and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: October 23, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-23959 Filed 10-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P