Title: US Department of Commerce Uncovers Circumvention Attempts in Solar Cell and Module Imports from China
Date: [insert date]
McCreary County Record – The U.S. Department of Commerce recently concluded its investigations into circumvention inquiries regarding solar cells and modules imported from China. The findings revealed that certain Chinese producers have attempted to bypass antidumping and countervailing duties through minor processing in Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
A total of eight companies were thoroughly investigated across the four nations, with five found guilty of attempting to evade U.S. duties by engaging in minor processing activities. These activities involved shipping their solar products to the Southeast Asian countries for further assembly, thereby circumventing the duties.
The Commerce Department has specifically identified the following companies involved in circumvention attempts: in Cambodia, BYD Hong Kong and New East Solar were found to be circumventing duties, while in Malaysia, Hanwha Q CELLS and Jinko Solar were determined not to be circumventing. Canadian Solar and Trina Solar, both based in Thailand, were also found to be circumventing. In Vietnam, Boviet Solar was determined not to be circumventing, while Vina Solar was found guilty.
To address this issue, importers of solar modules and cells from these four countries will not be required to pay duties until June 2024, provided that the imports are consumed within six months of the President’s Proclamation’s termination.
It is important to note that Commerce’s circumvention findings do not constitute a ban on imports from the aforementioned Southeast Asian nations. Instead, companies can certify that they are not attempting to bypass the antidumping and countervailing duty orders, in which case the circumvention findings will not apply.
Companies in Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam that did not cooperate or respond to Commerce’s request for information were presumed to be circumventing the duties.
Interested stakeholders can find more information on antidumping and countervailing duties through the International Trade Administration’s frequently asked questions page. Moreover, public records related to this investigation, including case number A-570-979, can be accessed at access.trade.gov.
This latest development emphasizes the U.S. government’s commitment to ensuring fair trade practices in the solar industry while protecting domestic manufacturers from unfair competition. By detecting and penalizing attempts to avoid import duties, the Department of Commerce aims to maintain a level playing field within the solar market.
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