China Solar Products: Commerce Sets New AD/CVD Exemption for Off-Grid Panels
The Commerce Department is adopting a new exemption for certain off-grid solar panels from antidumping and countervailing duties on crystalline silicon photovoltaic products from China (A-570-010/C-570-011), it said in a notice announcing the final results of a changed circumstances review released March 24. The proposed exemption was requested by Memory Experts, an importer of solar cells, and was not opposed by several U.S. producers of solar products.
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The new exemption will take retroactive effect for unliquidated entries on or after Jan. 1, 2019, for CV duties, and for entries on or after Feb. 1, 2019, for AD duties. Commerce has not issued final results of administrative reviews covering entries on or after these dates. Commerce will direct CBP to refund any AD/CV duty cash deposits collected after those respective dates, and will not assess any AD/CV duties on such entries.
Commerce is adding the following language to the scope exempting off-grid crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels without a glass cover:
Also excluded from the scope of these orders are off-grid crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels without a glass cover with the following characteristics: (1) total power output of 500 watts or less per panel; (2) maximum surface area of 8,000 cm2 per panel; (3) unit does not include a built-in inverter; (4) unit has visible parallel grid collector metallic wire lines every 2-40 millimeters across each solar panel (depending on model); (5) solar cells are encased in laminated frosted PET material without stitching; (6) the panel is encased in polyester fabric with visible stitching which includes a Velcro-type storage pocket and unit closure, or encased within a Neoprene clamshell (depending on model); and (7) includes LED indicator.
The new exemption is similar, but not identical, to exemptions from AD/CVD orders on solar cells that were established by Commerce in 2018 at the request of a different importer (see 1812260023).