[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 48 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17411-17413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05066]


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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 the Final Results of Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Review; Notice of Amended Final Results

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

SUMMARY: On February 29, 2024, the U.S. Court of International Trade 
(CIT) issued its final judgment in Risen Energy Co. v. United States, 
Consol. Court no. 22-00231, sustaining the U.S. Department of 
Commerce's (Commerce) first remand results pertaining to the 
administrative review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on 
crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into 
modules (solar cells) from the People's Republic of China (China) 
covering the period January 1, 2019 through, December 31, 2019. 
Commerce is notifying the public that the CIT's final judgment is not 
in harmony with Commerce's final results of the administrative review, 
and that Commerce is amending the final results with respect to the 
countervailable subsidy rates assigned to JA Solar Technology Yangzhou 
Co., Ltd. (JA

[[Page 17412]]

Solar) and Risen Energy Co., Ltd. (Risen).

DATES: Applicable March 10, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lingjun Wang, 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) 482-3642.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On July 7, 2022, Commerce published its final results in the 2019 
CVD administrative review of solar cells from China,\1\ in which 
Commerce: (1) found that JA Solar and Risen used the Export Buyer's 
Credit program (EBCP); \2\ (2) determined that the Tax Exemptions Under 
the Article 26(2) of the Enterprise Income Tax Law Program (Article 
26(2) Tax Program) is de jure specific; \3\ (3) relied on an average of 
Thai and Malaysian data as a tier three benchmark for the provision of 
land for less than adequate remuneration (LTAR); \4\ and (4) relied on 
an average of Xeneta and Descartes datasets as a tier two benchmark for 
ocean freight for several LTAR subsidy calculations.\5\
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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 and Partial Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Review; 2019, 87 FR 40491 (July 7, 2022) (Final Results), and 
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum (IDM).
    \2\ Id. at Comment 1.
    \3\ Id. at Comment 20.
    \4\ Id. at Comment 17.
    \5\ Id. at Comment 7.
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    On August 15 and September 12, 2022, Commerce published the Amended 
Final Results \6\ and Corrections,\7\ respectively, correcting certain 
ministerial errors and inadvertent errors in the Final Results.
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    \6\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not 
Assembled into Modules, from the People's Republic of China: Notice 
of Amended Final Results Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 
2019, 87 FR 50069 (August 15, 2022) (Amended Final Results).
    \7\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not 
Assembled into Modules, from the People's Republic of China: Final 
Results and Partial Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Review; 2019 and Notice of Amended Final Results of Countervailing 
Duty Review, 2019; Corrections, 87 FR 55782 (September 12, 2022) 
(Corrections).
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    Risen and JA Solar appealed Commerce's Final Results/Amended Final 
Results. On October 11, 2023, the CIT remanded the Final Results/
Amended Final Results to Commerce.\8\ The CIT ordered Commerce to: (1) 
consider Risen's untimely non-use certification, and to attempt to 
verify the Risen's and JA Solar's non-use certifications to the extent 
that verification does not overly burden voluntary participants; \9\ 
(2) remove the Article 26(2) Tax Program from its subsidy rate for 
Risen; \10\ (3) reconsider Commerce's land for LTAR calculation 
consistent with the CIT's holdings in Risen II, in which the CIT found 
that the use of the Thai data is insufficiently explained to meet the 
substantial evidence standard; \11\ and (4) reconsider whether it 
remains appropriate to use Descartes data for purposes of this 
review.\12\
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    \8\ See Remand Order, 658 F. Supp. 3d at 1371-79.
    \9\ Id., 658 F. Supp. 3d at 1372.
    \10\ See Remand Order, 658 F. Supp. 3d at 1373.
    \11\ Id. at 1375 (citing Risen Energy Co. v. United States, 
Consol. Court No. 20-03912, Slip Op. 23-48 (CIT April 11, 2023) 
(Risen II)).
    \12\ See Remand Order, 658 F. Supp. 3d at 1378.
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    On remand, Commerce requested that Risen submit on the record the 
non-use certification which was found to be untimely in the underlying 
review.\13\ Risen complied with Commerce's request.\14\ On December 12, 
2023, Commerce issued its Draft Remand Results; \15\ only JA Solar 
submitted comments.\16\
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    \13\ See Commerce's Letter, ``Supplemental Questionnaire,'' 
dated November 27, 2023.
    \14\ See Risen's Letter, ``Supplemental Questionnaire 
Response,'' dated November 29, 2023.
    \15\ See Draft Results of Remand Redetermination Pursuant to 
Court Remand, Risen Energy Co., Ltd., et al. v. United States, 
Consol. Court No. 22-00231, Slip Op. 23-148 (CIT October 11, 2023), 
dated December 12, 2023 (Draft Remand Results).
    \16\ See JA Solar's Letter, ``Comments on Draft Remand 
Redetermination,'' dated December 21, 2023 (JA Solar Comments).
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    In its remand redetermination, issued in January 2024,\17\ for both 
companies, Commerce: (1) removed the EBCP from its overall subsidy rate 
calculations; (2) removed Article 26(2) Tax program from its overall 
subsidy rate calculations; (3) used the Malaysian data as the tier 
three benchmark for the provision of land for LTAR given it is more 
contemporaneous to the acquisition years of the land-use rights; and in 
so doing, did not disturb the benefit streams calculated in the 2017 
administrative review and carried forward to this review (i.e., 2019 
administrative review); and (4) excluded Descartes data and relied 
solely on Xeneta data as a tier two benchmark for ocean freight. 
Consequently, Commerce has revised the subsidy benefit calculations for 
Risen and JA Solar. The CIT sustained Commerce's final 
redetermination.\18\
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    \17\ See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Court 
Remand, Risen Energy Co., Ltd., et al. v. United States, 
Consolidated Court No. 22-00231, Slip Op. 23-148 (CIT October 11, 
2023), dated January 9, 2024 (Final Remand), available at https://access.trade.gov/resources/remands/23-148.pdf.
    \18\ See Risen Energy Co., Ltd., et al. v. United States, Slip 
Op. 24-25 (CIT 2024).
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    Timken Notice
    In its decision in Timken,\19\ as clarified by Diamond 
Sawblades,\20\ the U.S. 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 
CIT's February 29, 2024 judgment constitutes a final decision of the 
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.
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    \19\ See Timken Co. v. United States, 893 F.2d 337 (Fed. Cir. 
1990) (Timken).
    \20\ See Diamond Sawblades Mfrs. Coalition v. United States, 626 
F.3d 1374 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (Diamond Sawblades).
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Amended Final Results

    Because there is now a final court decision, Commerce is amending 
its Final Results and Amended Final Results with respect to Risen and 
JA Solar as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Subsidy rate
                    Producer/exporter                       (percent ad
                                                             valorem)
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Risen Energy Co., Ltd.\21\..............................            7.22
JA Solar Technology Yangzhou Co., Ltd.\22\..............           10.04
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Cash Deposit Requirements

    Because Risen and JA Solar have a superseding cash deposit rate, 
i.e., there have been final results published in a subsequent 
administrative review, Commerce will not issue revised cash deposit 
instructions to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This notice 
will not affect the current cash deposit rates.
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    \21\ Risen is cross-owned with the following 12 companies: (1) 
Risen (Luoyang) New Energy Co., Ltd.; (2) Risen (Wuhai) New Energy 
Co., Ltd.; (3) Risen Energy (Changzhou) Co., Ltd.; (4) Risen Energy 
(Yiwu) Co., Ltd.; (5) Zhejiang Boxin Investment Co., Ltd.; (6) 
Zhejiang Twinsel Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. (7) JiuJiang 
Shengchao Xinye Technology Co., Ltd. (including JiuJang Shengshao 
Xinye Technology Co., Ltd. Ruichang Branch); (8) Jiangsu Sveck New 
Material Co., Ltd.; (9) Changzhou Sveck Photovoltaic New Material 
Co., Ltd.; (including Changzhou Sveck Photovoltaic New Material Co., 
Ltd. Jintan Danfeng Road Branch); (10) Changzhou Sveck New Material 
Technology Co., Ltd. (including Changzhou Sveck Photovoltaic New 
Material Co., Ltd. Jintan Danfeng Road Branch); (11) Ninghai Risen 
Energy Power Development Co., Ltd.; and (12) Risen (Ningbo) Electric 
Power Development Co., Ltd. See Final Results IDM at 10-11.
    \22\ JA Solar is cross-owned with the following 34 companies: 
(1) Shanghai JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd.; (2) JA (Hefei) Renewable 
Energy Co., Ltd.; (3) Hefei JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd.; (4) JA 
Solar Investment China Co., Ltd.; (5) Jing Hai Yang Semiconductor 
Material (Donghai) Co., Ltd.; (6) Donghai JingAo Solar Energy 
Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (JA Donghai); (7) Solar Silicon 
Valley Electronic Science and Technology Co., Ltd.; (8) Beijing 
Jinfeng Investment Co., Ltd.; (9) JingAo Solar Co., Ltd.; (10) 
Ningjin Songgong Electronic Materials Co., Ltd.; (11) Jinglong 
Industry and Commerce Group Co., Ltd.; (12) Ningjin County Jingyuan 
New Energy Investment Co., Ltd.; (13) Hebei Jinglong New Materials 
Technology Group Co., Ltd.; (14) Hebei Jinglong Sun Equipment Co. 
Ltd.; (15) Hebei Jingle Optoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd.; (16) 
Ningjin Jingxing Electronic Material Co., Ltd.; (17) Ningjin Saimei 
Ganglong Electronic Materials Co., Ltd.; (18) Hebei Ningtong 
Electronic Materials Co., Ltd.; (19) JA Solar (Xingtai) Co., Ltd.; 
(20) Xingtai Jinglong Electronic Material Co., Ltd.; (21) Xingtai 
Jinglong PV Materials Co., Ltd.; (22) JA PV Technology Co., Ltd.; 
(23) Ningjin Jinglong PV Industry Investment Co., Ltd.; (24) Baotou 
JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd.; (25) Xingtai Jinglong New Energy Co., 
Ltd.; (26) Ningjin County Jing Tai Fu Technology Co., Ltd.; (27) JA 
Solar Technology Co., Ltd.; (28) Jinglong Technology Holdings Co., 
Ltd.; (29) Ningjin Guiguang Electronics Investment Co., Ltd.; (30) 
Ningjin Longxin Investment Co., Ltd.; (31) Beijing JA Solar PV 
Technology Co., Ltd.; (32) Solar Silicon Peak Electronic Science and 
Technology Co., Ltd.; (33) Jingwei Electronic Materials Co., Ltd.; 
and (34) Taicang Juren PV Material Co., Ltd. See Final Results IDM 
at 9-10.

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[[Page 17413]]

Liquidation of Suspended Entries

    At this time, Commerce remains enjoined by the CIT order from 
liquidating entries that were produced and/or exported by Risen and JA 
Solar, and were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption 
during the period January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019. These 
entries will remain enjoined pursuant to the terms of the injunction 
during the pendency of any appeals process.
    In the event the CIT's ruling is not appealed, or, if appealed, 
upheld by a final and conclusive court decision, Commerce intends to 
instruct CBP to assess countervailing duties on unliquidated entries of 
subject merchandise produced and/or exported by Risen and JA Solar in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(b). We will instruct CBP to assess 
countervailing duties on all appropriate entries covered by this review 
when the ad valorem rate is not zero or de minimis. Where an ad valorem 
subsidy rate is zero or de minimis,\23\ we will instruct CBP to 
liquidate the appropriate entries without regard to countervailing 
duties.
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    \23\ See 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2).
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Notification to Interested Parties

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

    Dated: March 5, 2024.
Ryan Majerus,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the 
non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for 
Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2024-05066 Filed 3-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P